Dive Brief:
- Scientists found that a quarter of electronic waste ends up in seven countries. The countries receiving the most e-waste include China, India, Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Benin and Liberia.
- Researchers are concerned about the health risks that large amounts of e-waste pose to the communities where the electronics are brought. Regulations are often weak in these countries and enforcement is sometimes nonexistent.
- Research from 2005 indicates that over 38 million tons of used electronics were thrown out around the world during that year. Up to 72 million tons of e-waste could be discarded by 2017.
Dive Insight:
The e-waste study was conducted by the American Chemistry Council and published in the Environmental Science & Technology journal. The team decided to address the health and environmental issues caused by exposure to electronics by determining where e-waste was ending up. Researchers gathered data from many sources to reach the figures in the report.
Researchers mentioned e-waste can boost local economy in the area by providing employment opportunities. One village in China, Dongxiaokou, is a known spot for processing e-waste; at one time 30,000 villagers were part of the industry. Most of the electronics processed in Beijing, China end up here.
In May, ISRI delved into the issue of waste in emerging markets, citing a need for infrastructure, but that flexibility in regulations offered a promising outlook. The organization cautioned that there is not one universal standard that will fit across all emerging markets.
