Learning About E-Waste With The Wolcott Nitrobots E-Waste | Page 3

Why Should We Get Rid Of E-Waste

E-waste is becoming a problem in the world. There are many reasons why people should start trying to get rid of e-waste, or lower the amount of it.

E-waste goes to developing countries. They take in the e-waste for the money that they can get for metals in it. The countries dispose of it improperly; they burn it, they hand pick it apart and they throw it into acids. This is putting chemicals and toxins into the air which is extremely bad for the environment. The horrible thing is that they do not understand the impact of doing this. Most people who work with e-waste in developing countries have no idea of what chemicals and toxins they’re releasing into the air. For example, they’re releasing mercury and lead into the air, which can be two very harmful chemicals.

About seventy to eighty percent of e-waste is shipped to landfills in many developing nations. In the landfills the e-waste is sorted and sold for scrap metal. Sometimes, it is also burned, which is harmful to the surrounding people and environment.

In other developing countries, e-waste is also becoming too much of a problem. It is over flowing in places, sickening many children, adults and nature.

E-waste can have many different toxic elements inside it. Up to sixty elements on the periodic table can be found inside e-waste. As electronics are being rid of from households, the amount of e-waste in developing countries is growing. People are therefore being harmed for it. As a result, people should try their best to lower the amount of e-waste.