What is e-waste?  

 

E-waste stands for “electronic waste” and is an informal name for electronic products that are near or at the end of their useful lives.  Such products include: computers, cell phones, televisions, stereos, VCRs, fax machines, printers, microwaves, washing machines, etc. 

 

Is e-waste considered hazardous? 

 

E-waste contains materials that are hazardous such as lead, chromium, mercury, beryllium, and flame retardants.  These harmful materials pose environmental and human health risks for people participating in informal recycling practices or living near an e-waste dump site.  

 

How big of a problem is e-waste? 

 

According to the United Nations University, the annual total of electronic waste is predicted to surpass 57 million tons by the end of 2021.  Further, in 2018, only 20% of the e-waste generated globally was collected properly, the rest was discarded or managed informally.  This “informal management” refers to e-waste disposal in low-income communities in China, Thailand, India, and Nigeria (see the global impacts page for more information). 

 

How does e-waste cause human health problems? 

 

People living in low-income communities that rely on e-waste dismantling for income typically use dangerous methods to extract precious metals from the e-waste such as smashing electronics, acid leaching, and cable burning.  All of these methods expose workers and the surrounding environment to hazardous contaminants and lead to significant health problems.  A 2008 study found elevated levels of toxic metals such as copper, lead, nickel, and zinc in a schoolyard in the e-waste recycling town of Guiyu, China. 

 

What should I do with my e-waste? 

 

Reuse or Recycle!  You can donate or sell your still functioning equipment to someone who can still use it.  Products that cannot be repaired should be recycled at a facility that accepts e-waste.  See the recycle page for more information & to find a local e-waste recycler in Durham, NC.