-
Essay / Solutions to the problem of electronic waste - 1064
21st century - is the era when humanity has progressed in a technological field. Intensive development and use of techniques led to changes not only in the economy but also in the socio-political and spiritual spheres of social life. However, this progress has led to devastating disasters, such as electronic waste, which causes serious health problems and environmental pollution. E-waste is a type of waste containing obsolete or non-functional electronic and electrical devices. E-waste can pose a high level of hazard due to contaminants such as mercury, beryllium, cadmium, lead and brominated flame retardants, the release of which into the environment can lead to damage and pollution of the environment. Each country's methods for solving this problem are different but, in general, the goal is to reduce negative environmental impacts through recycling and reuse. However, among these two alternatives, recycling is less beneficial to the environment than reuse. Therefore, reuse must be a priority in order to reduce environmental risks. Reuse is the possibility of selecting parts of manufactured products that can be exposed to treatment by determining the characteristics of the waste and extending the use of electronic products or their components. This superior option allows users to use obsolete equipment instead of dumping it. Therefore, this leads to supporting an optimal usage life of a particular product that is economically and environmentally appropriate. Reuse is not only environmentally and economically beneficial, it also provides access to those who cannot afford new electronic equipment, such as low-income families, schools, and for-profit businesses non-profit. Recent study sh...... middle of paper ......turing effective and eco-efficient? An analysis of the eco-efficiency of personal computers and mobile phones. http://ssrn.com/abstract=1367023 (accessed January 3, 2011). Williams E. and Sasaki T. 2003. PC end-of-life management strategies. Computers and the environment: understanding and managing their impacts. Dordrecht: KluwerAcademic Publishers, pp. 183-196.UNIDO. 2009. Reuse and recycle: growing green businesses. http://bit.ly/aTuf4p.(accessed January 4, 2011).EEA. 2010. The “waste hierarchy” chart. Waste and material resources – political context. Directive 2002/96/EC relating to waste electrical and electronic equipment. http://bit.ly/9iOFuv (accessed January 3, 2011).