Added: 11.03.2010 15:42
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e-waste generation rapidly increasing

The raising of e-waste in developing countries may seriously damage environment and public health

Mobile phones, televisions, computers, microwaves, refrigerators… integrate the so-called electronic waste. Wanting the newest, fastest, best gadgets can lead us to a dangerous situation. Electronic waste is growing at a rate of approximately 40 million tons per year. This seems to have a bigger impact in developing countries, not only due to their own devices, but also to the old items that developed countries are sending there. Products are not designed anymore to be longer-lasting; the warranty offered for many of the manufacturers seldom exceeds the 1-2 years. In addition to this, there is a huge amount of different accessories that do the same function (for example: mobile phones’ chargers, usb adapters, etc…). Mainly factors contribute to this “throwaway” or “disposal” culture. But the problem is not just the generated e-waste. The materials required to build electronic products are expensive and difficult to obtain, involving high-cost and pollutant extraction processes. Developing countries have fewer resources for recycling and this trend can cause disastrous consequences for the environment and population. It is important to find some solution or plan for managing electronic wastes.

Research question: Effective recycling plan for developing countries?

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