Hi everyone 😀 This week, we shall be exploring the world of electronic waste (E-waste), an issue that is perhaps closer to our hearts given the prevalence of remote working these days. E-waste generally refers to the obsolete electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) that are discarded (Akram et al. 2019). The plethora of EEEs translates to mountains of E-waste generated, but we often fail to understand their environmental implications after they have been discarded. After all, out of sight, out of mind right?

But let’s reboot this mindset and learn to inspire positive changes in our treatment of E-waste!

World of Technology

Let us start with an interactive activity! Put a finger down for each of the following EEEs that you own. Ready? Let’s go!

I had to put all 10 of my fingers down, what about you? Evidently, electronic consumerism has gained prominence in the contemporary world, so much so that the pace of high-tech evolution has superseded the boundary of environmental sustainability. The consumer electronics industry is valued at US$1 trillion in 2019 with an estimated compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7% between 2020 and 2026 (Wadhwani & Saha, 2020). This has been attributed to the increased dependency on electronics, with a surge in ‘smart’ devices being incorporated into our daily lives (Fowler, 2017). All these devices have a finite lifetime, which has been touted to be increasingly shortened by the advent of novel intelligent technology that bolster consumer demand. For one, the rapid and dynamic technology landscape – such as the recent transition to 5G networks – has encouraged consumers to purchase electronics that are integrated with the latest technologies. 

Additionally, the hypercompetitive nature of the consumer electronics industry entails the proliferation of new products in the market to entice consumers (Cecere at al, 2015). Subsequently, consumer electronic giants often schedule annual releases or several releases within a year, to ensure the relevancy of their products. Apple Inc, having established itself as one of the prominent players in the electronics industry, has been observed to follow such patterns of frequent releases (InfoNewt, 2020).

E-Waste Trends

Technology and electronic devices have invariably formed the cornerstone of our daily functions. With every new technology introduced to the electronics market, a significant portion of leading products is rendered obsolete, and E-waste is thus generated.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP, 2020), an estimated 50 million tonnes of E-waste is produced annually, and this trajectory is expected to reach 120 million tonnes per year by 2050 if current consumption trends continue. Dismally, only 20% of this is formally recycled. The remaining 80% of the discards end up in landfills or are informally recycled in developing countries, which exposes workers to hazardous and carcinogenic heavy metals such as mercury, lead, and cadmium (UNEP, 2020). Additionally, E-waste in landfill contaminates soil and groundwater, putting food supply systems and water sources at risk (UNEP, 2020).

The Shocking Truth

Personally, I am guilty of contributing to the problem on hand. For one, the hair dryer that I have been using has spoiled recently and I have bought a replacement without thinking of the environmental and health implications brought about by the E-waste that I have generated in the process.

While campaigns for sustainable lifestyles such as minimalism and ethical consumption patterns have gained traction, perhaps more thought and effort should be placed into combating the pressing issue of E-waste. The rise of digital natives and transition towards automation could pose a lethal threat to the environment if left the treatment of such waste is left unresolved.

With that, in our following posts, we shall explore problems of E-waste exportation and end off on a positive note by looking into the potential solutions to curb this problem. See you then 😀

 

References:

Akram, R. et al. (2019). Global Trends of E-waste Pollution and Its Impact on Environment. In Hashi, M., & Varma, A. (eds.). Electronic Waste Production. Soil Biology. 57, 55-74. Available from: https://doi-org.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/10.1007/978-3-030-26615-8_5 

Cocere, G., Corrocher, N., & Battaglia, R. D. (2015). Innovation and competition in the smartphone industry: Is there a dominant design? Telecommunications Policy. 39(3-4), 162-175. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2014.07.002

Fowler, B. A. (2017). Chapter 1 – Magnitude of the Global E-waste Problem. In Fowler, B. A. (ed.). Electronic Waste. Toxicology and Public Health Issues. 1-15. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-803083-7.00001-9 

InfoNewt. (2020). Visualising Apple Product Release Patterns. Available from: https://infonewt.com/apple-release-patterns [Accessed 9 October 2020]

UNEP. (2020). UN report: Time to seize opportunity, tackle challenges of e-waste. Available from: https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/press-release/un-report-time-seize-opportunity-tackle-challenge-e-waste [Accessed 9 October 2020]

Wadhwani, P., & Saha, P. (2020). Consumer Electronics Market Size By Product (Audio & Video Equipment [Personal, Professional], Major Household Appliance, Small Household Appliance, Digital Photo Equipment [Personal, Professional]), By Application (Personal, Professional), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook, Growth Potential, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2020-2026. Global Market Insights. Available from: https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/consumer-electronics-market [Accessed 9 October 2020]

Images:

InfoNewt. (2020). Visualising Apple Product Release Patterns. Available from: https://infonewt.com/apple-release-patterns [Accessed 9 October 2020]