E-waste - UN urges smart technologies
to protect our health - UN News
So-called e-waste from products such as old
computers, printers, mobile phones, pagers,
digital photo and music devices, refrigerators, toys
and televisions are set to rise sharply in tandem
with the growth in sales in countries such as China
and India, as well as in the continents of Africa and
Latin America over the next ten years, according to
a report issued by the UNEP.
The study, Recycling from E-Waste to
Resources, launched at a meeting among
hazardous waste experts in Bali, Indonesia,
predicts that by 2020 e-waste from old computers
will have jumped by 500% from 2007 levels
in India, and by 200% to 400% in South Africa
and China. Meanwhile, e-waste from old mobile
phones will be seven times higher in China and 18
times higher in India.
At the same time, most e-waste in China is
improperly handled, much of it incinerated by
backyard recyclers to recover valuable metals
like gold practices that release steady plumes
of far-reaching toxic pollution but yield very low
metal recovery rates compared to state-of-the-art
industrial facilities.
“This report gives new urgency to establishing
ambitious, formal and regulated processes for
collecting and managing e-waste via the setting
up of large, efficient facilities in China,” UNEP
Executive Director Achim Steiner said. “China
is not alone in facing a serious challenge. India,
Brazil, Mexico and others may also face rising
environmental damage and health problems
if e-waste recycling is left to the vagaries of the
informal sector.
“In addition to curbing health problems,
boosting developing country e-waste recycling
rates can have the potential to generate decent
employment, cut greenhouse gas emissions and
recover a wide range of valuable metals, including
silver, gold, palladium, copper and indium. By
acting now and planning forward many countries
can turn an e-challenge into an e-opportunity.”
The report, issued at a conference comprising
parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm
Conventions dealing with hazardous wastes ahead
of UNEP’s Governing Council meeting in Bali,
‟“In addition to curbing
health problems, boosting
developing country e-waste
recycling rates can have
the potential to generate
decent employment, cut
greenhouse gas emissions
and recover a wide range of
valuable metals, including
silver, gold, palladium,
copper and indium. By
acting now and planning
forward many countries can
turn an e-challenge into an
e-opportunity.”
recommends that countries establish e-waste
management centres of excellence, building
on existing organisations working in the area of
recycling and waste management.
Turning Waste into Wealth – UN News
World Habitat Day focuses on cleaning up cities.
The technology also provides an opportunity
for newer, rapidly-growing cities in developing
countries to “leapfrog” older cities, by taking
advantage of the latest solutions and avoiding
more established, but less efficient methods.
Using these tools effectively, the United
Nations (UN) Chief recently said they can help us
build well-planned and smartly managed cities,
which can steer us towards inclusive growth, and
low-emission development.
The potential benefits of frontier technologies
for developing countries are outlined in the
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