E-Waste and Manufacturer Responsibility: A Comprehensive Analysis

This essay analyzes the growing e-waste problem, detailing its causes, impacts, and potential solutions. The essay highlights that a significant amount of e-waste is generated annually, with a small percentage being recycled. The primary issues associated with e-waste include the release of hazardous chemicals into the environment, leading to health impacts and pollution. The essay discusses the role of manufacturers in addressing the problem, suggesting strategies such as producing more durable devices, improving recycling processes, and using materials that can be easily separated and reused. It emphasizes the need for practices that minimize environmental and health hazards, promoting reuse and recycling to mitigate the adverse effects of e-waste on human health and the environment. The essay concludes by underlining the importance of responsible e-waste management to prevent pollution and protect human health.

Running head: E-WASTE
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Question- Define the e-waste problem: what is happening and why is this a problem? What
can manufacturers do to improve the situation with the various issues (health, hazardous
materials, recycling, refuse, etc.)?
E-waste problem- Electronic waste or e-waste refers to damaged and discarded electronic
devices that are destined for reuse, salvage, resale, recycling, or disposal. This essay will discuss
several issues related to e-waste problems and their potential management strategies.
Why is it happening- Approximately 20-50 million tons of e-waste is generated annually,
on a global scale, of which only 20% gets recycled. These can be regarded as the fastest growing
section of the waste stream, generated from a nation (Greenpeace USA, 2018).
Why is it a problem- The primary problem associated with the use of e-waste can be
attributed to the fact that e-wastes are responsible for more than 5% of the entire municipal
wastes that are generated across the world, and are found to affect almost all countries. The rest
80% of these wastes go to incinerators and landfills, despite the fact that the chemicals present in
the wastes might seep into groundwater and streams, or generate dioxin on burning them (Leach
& Boyd, 2018). Harmful chemicals present in the wastes include lead, mercury, brominated
flame retardants, cadmium, and beryllium, each of which can create severe health impacts and
pollution.
What can manufacturers do to improve the situation- Efforts must be taken by the
manufacturers to produce electronic devices that last for a longer time and do not get heated up
quickly. Waste minimization in the electronic component processing systems should involve the
approach of recycling. One way by which the e-wastes are processed include melting of the
circuit boards, burning the cable sheathings for recovering copper and gold wires and open-pit

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acid leaching for metal separations. The batteries and toners are initially removed (Li et al.,
2015). The manufacturers can employ the conventional process of mechanical shredding and
separation, where steel or iron materials are separated from aluminium, plastic and copper. The
process also helps in separation of ferrous materials that get attracted to a magnet. Furthermore,
different materials that compose the electronic devices should be classified into their raw
components with the use of metallic sensors and eddy current that will help in de-manufacturing
the harmful compounds (Kiddee, Naidu & Wong, 2013). E-wastes should be prepared in a way
that helps them to get reused to recycled. The steel and copper obtained after shredding can be
reused. Reducing practices that involve open burning of the computer wires, or discharging the
chips into nearby water bodies will help in preventing onset of several health hazards.
To conclude, informal e-waste processing in developing countries has most often been
associated with adverse effects on the human health and also results in air pollution. Thus, there
is a need to practice reuse and recycling techniques to prevent adverse impacts of e-waste on the
environment and human health.

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References
Greenpeace USA. (2018). Guide to Greener Electronics 2017. Retrieved from
https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/reports/greener-electronics-2017/
Kiddee, P., Naidu, R., & Wong, M. H. (2013). Electronic waste management approaches: An
overview. Waste Management, 33(5), 1237-1250.
Leach, A., & Boyd, O. (2018). Samsung and Greenpeace: what you need to know about e-waste.
Retrieved from
https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2017/mar/01/samsung-greenpeace-
what-you-need-to-know-e-waste-smartphones-recycling
Li, J., Zeng, X., Chen, M., Ogunseitan, O. A., & Stevels, A. (2015). “Control-Alt-Delete”:
rebooting solutions for the e-waste problem. Environmental science &
technology, 49(12), 7095-7108.