Standard Page - 2009-07-24
Your old laptop is far more dangerous than you might think. With electronics being upgraded and replaced every few years, the world now has millions of tons of old electronics to deal with. Unfortunately, many countries choose the easy way out and ship their e-waste – containing a cocktail of hazardous chemicals – to China, India and Africa.
Your old laptop is far more dangerous than you might think. With electronics being upgraded and replaced every few years, the world now has millions of tons of old electronics to deal with. Unfortunately, many countries choose the easy way out and ship their e-waste – containing a cocktail of hazardous chemicals – to China, India and Africa.
Guiyu, China, is one of the largest electronic waste sites on earth. Here old electronics from the developed world come to their final resting place – at high cost to the environment and the thousands of workers and their children.
A woman breaks down circuit boards by hand in Taizhou, Zhejiang province.
Where does e-waste come from?
E-waste is now the fastest growing component of the municipal solid waste stream because people are upgrading their mobile phones, computers, televisions and audio equipment much more frequently than ever before. Mobile phones and computers are the biggest problem because they are replaced most often.
Not only developed countries generate e-waste; Asia discards an estimated 12 million tonnes each year. China’s current annual e-waste production is 2.3 million tonnes, second only to the United States’ 3 million tonnes. According to the UNEP, e-waste production in China and South Asia is expected to increase from 2007 levels by 200-400% by 2020. Developing countries are expected to triple their e-waste production over the next five years.
Did you know?
- The average lifespan of computers in developed countries has dropped from six years in 1997 to just two years in 2005.
- Mobile phones have a lifecycle of less than two years in developed countries.
- A mobile phone contains 500 to 1,000 components. Many of these contain toxic heavy metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium, as well as hazardous chemicals such as brominated flame retardants.
- The US and China are now the biggest producers of e-waste.
- Since 2003, China has thrown away 5 million televisions, 4 million refrigerators, 5 million washing machines, 5 million computers and tens of millions cellphones – every year.
- A television has 5,000 components containing toxic chemicals.
Find out more about the export trade of e-waste, and Guiyu, China’s largest e-waste disposal site and an environmental nightmare.