Electronics Project
Background
The global consumption of electrical and electronic products is rapidly increasing. Amongst other things, the pace of innovation and technological change in the industry means that manufacturers are able to offer greater functionality to users at either the same or reduced prices. This often means that, in order to keep pace with the latest technology and trends, consumers are motivated to purchase new products at regular, and ever shorter, intervals. In addition, steady increases in average disposable incomes across many developed and developing countries mean that electrical and electronic products become less of a ‘luxury’ than they were previously. Moreover, the continuing expansion of global logistics and distribution systems makes it easier for consumers to purchase these products.
This increase in the consumption of products has many benefits. For example, the broader availability of household appliances means that many people need to devote less time to labour intensive domestic work. Greater access to information and communication technologies (ICTs) helps to overcome the so called ‘digital divide.’ However, there are also a range of problems associated with this rising tide of product usage. In particular, the increase in consumption is inevitably accompanied by an increase in the amount of waste generated when products reach the end of their life. Depending on the way in which the waste is managed, this can result in any one of an array of economic, social and environmental implications. For instance, when e-waste is disposed of at landfill sites, apart from putting pressure on available capacity, there is a risk that hazardous materials contained in used products might leach into surrounding groundwater and land. Landfill disposal also means that potentially useful resources contained in e-waste are lost from the materials cycle.
Recycling or reuse offers a potential solution to many of the problems associated with the management of e-waste. However, if inappropriately managed, it can also contribute to a range of negative consequences. For example, unless recycling activities are carried out to acceptable standards, workers can be exposed to the hazardous materials contained in e-waste. These materials, including Lead, Mercury and Cadmium have a range of potentially damaging effects on human health.
Other problems associated with the growth in e-waste include the export of wastes from industrialised to economically less developed countries, the use of disadvantaged labour groups within the e-waste reprocessing or recycling industry, the impacts of the distribution of products for reuse and the economic effects of spatial and industry change at a national, regional and local level.
