Expansion of the global market for electrical and electronic products continues to accelerate, while the lifespan of the products is dropping, resulting in a corresponding explosion in electronic scrap.
As noted by UNEP (2005):
“Every year, 20 to 50 million tonnes of electrical and electronic equipment waste (“e-waste”) are generated world-wide, which could bring serious risks to human health and the environment. While 4 million PCs are discarded per year in China alone.” This rapidly growing “e-waste” stream presents additional difficulties because a wide range of hazardous chemicals are, or have in the past been, used in components of electrical and electronic devices, and these subsequently create substantial problems with regard to handling, recycling and disposal of obsolete products.
The European Union (EU), Japan, South Korea,Taiwan and several states of the USA have introduced legislation making producers responsible for their end-of-life products.The EU has banned the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic products from July 2006, to facilitate safer recycling.
See full Report, in pdf format.
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