Electronic waste, commonly referred to as e-waste, refers to discarded electronic devices. Approximately 50 to 60 million tons of e-waste are generated each year, much of which was exported to overseas recyclers prior to China’s 2018 ban on foreign garbage imports. Since e-waste contains toxic materials, such as lead, cadmium, and beryllium, once it is exposed to strong UV radiation or corrodes, these toxic materials could be released into the atmosphere, soil, and nearby water bodies, affecting public health.
Sources referenced in this episode:
What is e-waste/recycling?:
https://earth.org/e-waste/
https://earth.org/what-is-e-waste-recycling/
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/10/2021-years-e-waste-outweigh-great-wall-of-china/
EPA recycling goal:
https://www.epa.gov/circulareconomy/fact-sheet-about-national-recycling-goal-50-percent-2030#:~:text=At%20the%202020%20America%20Recycles,we%20have%20a%20common%20goal.
Overseas exports of recycling:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_waste_in_China
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China%27s_waste_import_ban
https://www.cnn.com/2013/05/30/world/asia/china-electronic-waste-e-waste/index.html
https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/un-report-time-seize-opportunity-tackle-challenge-e-waste
https://ourworld.unu.edu/en/toxic-e-waste-dumped-in-poor-nations-says-united-nations
https://collections.unu.edu/eserv/UNU:1624/ewaste-in-china.pdf
Visual on how batteries are recycled:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&vl=en
