E-waste to hit developing world hard

Waste from discarded electronics will rise dramatically in the developing world within a decade, with computer waste in India alone to grow by 500 percent from 2007 levels by 2020, according to a U.N. Study.

E-waste, a term describing electronics including phones, printers, televisions, refrigerators and other appliances--grows globally by 40 million metric tones a year. Toxins are emitted when it is improperly burned by scavengers looking for valuable components, such as copper and gold.

A report released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) predicted that by 2020, e-waste from computers would grow by up to 400 percent from 2007 levels in China and South Africa. 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. 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

The United States is the biggest producer of e-waste, creating around 3 million metric tons a year. Close behind is China, which produces around 2.3 million metric tons domestically and is where a lot of the developed world's e-waste is sent. The mobile phone waste in China would be about seven times higher than 2007 levels by 2020, while in India it would be about 18 times higher.

Stop the developed countries from dumping E-waste in other countries!!

As consumption of computers, cell phones, and TVs escalates across the globe, countries need to establish proper recycling programs to deal with all the electronic waste. With India being the major outsourcing hub for the world over there is a growing increase interms of computer waste in India and also in other developing countries.

Most companies want to dispose of their e-waste responsibly so they seek out an electronics recycler, or an asset recovery company. It is recommended that countries should establish e-waste management centers of excellence, building on existing organizations working in the area of recycling and waste management.Recyclers should not cheat by dumping the e-waste in developing countries.

The dumping of electronic waste in developing countries, exposing the ugly underbelly of the computer recycling industry – and what really happens with the used electronics discarded by businesses today.

Something should be done fast or else its going to be a very chaotic situation and one day we all will pay for this.