Recycling is considered environmentally friendly because it prevents hazardous waste, including heavy metals and carcinogens, from entering the atmosphere, landfill or waterways. While electronics consist a small fraction of total waste generated, they are far more dangerous. There is stringent legislation designed to enforce and encourage the sustainable disposal of appliances and equipment, the most notable being in accordance with The National Environmental Management Act (Act 107 of 1998) (NEMA) and The Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act 85 of 1993) (OHSA)
As mentioned, electronic waste contains toxic components that are dangerous to human health, such as mercury, lead, cadmium, polybrominated flame retardants, barium and lithium. The negative health effects of these toxins on humans include brain, heart, liver, kidney and skeletal system damage.
The pollution of soil, water, and air by e-waste also pose a threat to human beings. Soil and water pollution can compromise the food chain, leading to a variety of neurological and organ problems. The dioxins released by burning e-waste can contribute to numerous health issues, including: reproductive problems.
You should know that e-waste is quite crucial because electronics have a short useful life. As such, they become electronic waste at a swift pace. E-waste recycling is one of the most talked-about issues in the world today due to its potentials to reduce environmental hazards and pollution. There is also the fact that it can protect our lives as humans and other life forms existing in our world. E-waste recycling is the reuse and reprocessing of electrical and electronic equipment of any type that has been discarded or regarded as obsolete. Recycling of e-waste is a growing trend and was initiated to protect human and environmental health mainly due to the widespread environmental pollution impacts of e-waste.
