E-Waste Recycling and Why It Is Important

Main Article Content

Ihwan Ghazali
Novita Sakundarini

Abstract

The exponential growth of electronic waste (e-waste) has become a pressing concern. This alarming trend is expected to persist. The study identifies falling prices as a primary driver behind the surge in e-waste, making electronic devices more affordable and accessible globally. Developing countries, particularly in Asia, bear a significant share of this burden, as a burgeoning middle class with disposable incomes contributes to increased purchases and frequent replacements of electronic goods. Asia alone accounts for more than 40 percent of the global e-waste generated. The critical need for urgent and coordinated global efforts to address the escalating challenge of e-waste. It highlights the environmental hazards posed by improper disposal and the socio-economic impact on developing regions. As electronic consumption continues to rise, effective strategies must be implemented to mitigate the adverse effects of e-waste, emphasizing sustainable practices, responsible manufacturing, and international collaboration.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Article Details

How to Cite
Ghazali, I., & Sakundarini, N. (2024). E-Waste Recycling and Why It Is Important. Bincang Sains Dan Teknologi, 3(01), 19–24. https://doi.org/10.56741/bst.v3i01.502
Section
Articles
Author Biographies

Ihwan Ghazali, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM)

is a senior lecturer at Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Malaka (UTeM), Malaysia. He has a history of working as a business and project manager for an environmental consulting services company in Indonesia. He received his Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Malaya, Malaysia, and is mainly concerned with green product design, industrial engineering, product design and development, and cultural study. (email: ihwan@utem.edu.my).

Novita Sakundarini, University of Nottingham Malaysia

is affiliated with the School of Mechanical, Materials, and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia. Her expertise encompasses various aspects of sustainable manufacturing, including eco-design, material selection, recycling-oriented design, and developing environmental impact assessment tools in product design. Dr. Sakundarini is also involved in establishing research collaborations and university linkages, mainly focusing on manufacturing and sustainable design, notably with universities in the Asia-Pacific region. (email: novita.sakundarini@nottingham.edu.my).

Received 2024-01-16
Accepted 2024-02-12
Published 2024-02-13

Plaudit

References

Bhatt, N., Vishanth, A., Singh, D., & Radha, R. (2023). The Advancement of Electronic Gadgets in 21st Century. EAI Endorsed Transactions on Energy Web, 10(1), 1-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4108/ew.4196

Kiddee, P., Naidu, R., & Wong, M. H. (2013). Electronic waste management approaches: An overview. Waste management, 33(5), 1237-1250. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2013.01.006

Singh, N., Duan, H., & Tang, Y. (2020). Toxicity evaluation of E-waste plastics and potential repercussions for human health. Environment international, 137, 105559. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.105559

Lebbie, T. S., Moyebi, O. D., Asante, K. A., Fobil, J., Brune-Drisse, M. N., Suk, W. A., ... & Carpenter, D. O. (2021). E-waste in Africa: a serious threat to the health of children. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(16), 8488. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18168488

Baldé, C. P., Forti, V., Gray, V., Kuehr, R., & Stegmann, P. (2017). The global e-waste monitor 2017: Quantities, flows and resources. United Nations University, International Telecommunication Union, and International Solid Waste Association.

Vishwakarma, A., Kanaujia, K., & Hait, S. (2023). Global scenario of E-waste generation: trends and future predictions. In Global E-Waste Management Strategies and Future Implications (pp. 13-30). Elsevier. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-99919-9.00013-1

Shaikh, S., Thomas, K., & Zuhair, S. (2020). An exploratory study of e-waste creation and disposal: Upstream considerations. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 155, 104662. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2019.104662

Thakur, P., & Kumar, S. (2022). Evaluation of e-waste status, management strategies, and legislations. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 19(7), 6957-6966. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-021-03383-2

Zhuang, X. (2019). Chemical Hazards Associated With Treatment of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment. In Electronic waste management and treatment technology (pp. 311-334). Butterworth-Heinemann. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-816190-6.00014-5

Saha, L., Kumar, V., Tiwari, J., Rawat, S., Singh, J., & Bauddh, K. (2021). Electronic waste and their leachates impact on human health and environment: Global ecological threat and management. Environmental Technology & Innovation, 24, 102049. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2021.102049

Liu, D., Guo, X., & Xiao, B. (2019). What causes growth of global greenhouse gas emissions? Evidence from 40 countries. Science of the Total Environment, 661, 750-766. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.197

Anuardo, R. G., Espuny, M., Costa, A. C. F., Espuny, A. L. G., Kazançoğlu, Y., Kandsamy, J., & de Oliveira, O. J. (2023). Transforming E-Waste into Opportunities: Driving Organizational Actions to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals. Sustainability, 15(19), 14150. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su151914150

Tembhare, S. P., Bhanvase, B. A., Barai, D. P., & Dhoble, S. J. (2021). E-waste recycling practices: a review on environmental concerns, remediation and technological developments with a focus on printed circuit boards. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 1-83. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-021-01819-w

Pahari, A. K., & Dubey, B. K. (2019). Waste from electrical and electronics equipment. In Plastics to Energy (pp. 443-468). William Andrew Publishing. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-813140-4.00018-2

Copani, G., Picone, N., Colledani, M., Pepe, M., & Tasora, A. (2019). Highly evolvable E-waste recycling technologies and systems. Factories of the Future: The Italian Flagship Initiative, 109-128. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94358-9_5

Pindar, S., & Dhawan, N. (2021). Characterization and recycling potential of the discarded cathode ray tube monitors. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 169, 105469. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.105469

Shams, S. (2020). Solution and Challenges in Recycling Waste Cathode-Ray Tube. E-waste Recycling and Management: Present Scenarios and Environmental Issues, 1-17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-14184-4_1

Patil, R. A., & Ramakrishna, S. (2020). A comprehensive analysis of e-waste legislation worldwide. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27, 14412-14431. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-07992-1

Shevchenko, T., Laitala, K., & Danko, Y. (2019). Understanding consumer E-waste recycling behavior: introducing a new economic incentive to increase the collection rates. Sustainability, 11(9), 2656. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su11092656