Significance Of E Waste Recycling Brisbane
E-Waste is a fast-growing trash canal, and its dumping is a major environmental problem worldwide. Over fifty million tons of e-waste is produced annually when most of it finds its way to landfills and dumping sites, but it can be managed by e waste recycling Brisbane. E-waste comprises approximately 8% of solid municipal waste in rich countries, such as the GCC. Globally, 15 – 20% of e-waste is recycled while the rest is dumped in developing countries. However, in the Middle East, only 5 per cent of the waste is shipped to recycling sites (found in Asia, Africa, and South America), while the rest ends up in landfills.
What is E-Waste?
The term ‘waste’ refers to any electrical or electronic device that has reached the end of its life, such as microwaves, cell phones, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions and computers. Such waste is made of metal and non-ferrous metals, wood, circuit boards, plastics, glass, pottery, rubber etc.
The majority of e-waste iron and steel (about 50%) are followed by plastics and non-metallic metals such as copper, aluminium and precious metals such as silver, gold, platinum, palladium etc. E-waste also contains toxic substances such as lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, selenium and chromium.
E-waste differs from municipal and industrial waste and requires special management procedures due to both being essential and expensive. Recycling electronic waste can help recycle recyclable materials and basic materials, especially copper and precious metals.
However, due to the lack of recycling facilities, high labour costs, and strict environmental regulations, rich countries can dump or export e-waste to poorer countries which is illegal under the Basel Convention.
E-Waste Health Risks
E-waste recycling techniques that involve burning and dissolving solids have few steps to protect human health and the environment. E-waste workers often have adverse health effects by touching the skin and smelling it.
Employees, consumers and communities are exposed to the chemicals contained electronically throughout their life cycle, from production through waste disposal. Burning, landfill, and illegal dumping of electronic waste all include toxic chemicals in the environment. Therefore, e waste recycling Brisbane is of great importance to reuse e-devices. E-waste recycling workers have been shown to have high levels of fire retardants in their blood, possibly due to exposure to indoor air pollution. Similar exposure can occur in communities where recycled plants are found, especially if these plants are not adequately controlled.
Most Middle East, Europe, and North America have exported their production and waste products to developing countries in Southeast Asia, China, and India. Uncontrolled e-waste management is having a devastating effect on local communities and the environment in these countries.
E-Waste Recycling and Metal Industry
Electrical and electronic equipment is made of various materials, including metal, plastic, and pottery. For example, a cell phone may contain more than 40 basic metals, such as special metals such as cobalt, copper and tin, indium and antimony, and such precious metals as gold, silver, and palladium. Metals represent about one-fourth of the weight of the wire, and the rest are plastic and ceramic material.
When we consider the high growth rate of electronic devices, including monitors, MP3 players, cell phones, televisions, digital cameras and electronic toys, it is clear that these devices are responsible for high demand and high prices for various devices. These metal tools are also available at the end of the life span and can manufacture new products if effective recycling methods are used.
