The Growing Problem of Electronic Waste

The Growing Problem of Electronic Waste 
Societies have turned increasingly wasteful, as a result, not just of an insatiable appetite for technology, but also for a frenzied race to upgrade to the latest devices,, has led to a global problem of increasing electronic waste (e-waste) and a massive knock on effect on the environment. Calls for carbon neutrality and a switch to renewables in order to lessen the harm to our environment is a prime focus that many countries are working on. Climate change is accelerating and our greater consumption has led pollution levels to rise to the extent where we are witnessing frightening damage caused to our environment, resulting form melting ice glaciers, rising water levels and a noticeable increase in temperatures around the world. This is playing havoc with the natural environment and it is clear that we need to change the way we work, rest and play. 
Now, I am all for people purchasing electronic devices to help them become part of the technology revolution, as I myself am a producer of such devices through the recent technology brand I established under the brand TAG-Tech. What I find disturbing however, is the extent to which technology firms are relentless in their drive to bring out newer devices, pushing consumers to ditch their current technology prematurely and purchase new ones. 
This ‘planned obsolescence’ is not a new phenomena and can be traced back to the 1924, where well-known international bulb manufacturers set up a cartel which agreed that the lifespan of bulbs would not exceed 1000 hours in order to increase sales and turnover. This cartel was dissolved in 1939 when Eastern European manufacturers started producing low cost bulbs.
However, unlike bulbs, e-waste contains many harmful chemicals that is exacerbated by the huge amounts of e-waste we are producing. Statistics produced by the International telecommunication Union (ITU) show that in 2019 the world generated a staggering 53.6 million metric tons of e-waste, of which 17.4% was officially documented as properly collected and recycled! This is equal to approximately $57 billion USD and includes metals such as iron, copper, and gold as well as toxic chemicals including lead, mercury, cadmium and others. This is a catastrophe of epic proportions and a disaster with huge repercussions. It is clear that we as consumers have a role to play in this and that we must exert self-restraint in order to curb our appetite for regular technology change. Consumer action however will only go so far. 
E-waste is a real contributor to pollution levels globally and raises concerns about air, soil and water quality, the energy and landfills needed to process this waste and the human cost in terms of cheap labor and exploitation in countries that are willing to take this waste on to process. Even e-waste exportation has become a major problem, where richer countries simply export their e-waste to poorer countries for cheaper processing than could be done locally. This often is done in environments that have no regard for health and safety and typically exploit informal labor.
This must be reformed into a circular, sustainable sector where equipment manufacturers bear the brunt of the responsibility to make their devices repairable, open official training facilities for technicians to be properly trained and make spare parts available and affordable. This will create a new revenue stream for them, provide new employment opportunities for our youth and generate a pool of sustainable talent in this space. Establishing proper refurbishing facilities is another opportunity that should be explored, as many citizens of the world cannot afford to buy new devices. There is a booming market for second hand devices in many countries which manufacturers could leverage as part of their CSR and outreach programmes.
Governments have a vital role to play in all of this including limiting the export of e-waste, putting in sound recycling facilities that discard chemicals and component safely and pushing through legislation to push manufacturers to make their technology repairable. They should actively engage themselves in the initiatives such as the Sustainable Cycles Programme (SCYCLE) created by the United Nations University, to promote sustainable societies by supporting the sustainable production, consumption, and disposal of electrical and electronic equipment as well as other ubiquitous goods.
We also need local movements like the ‘right to repair’ programme established in the UK to make parts, schematics and expertise available, which has led to technicians and consumers coming together in communal settings to repair devices, making consumers more technology aware while at the same time reducing the amount of national e-waste.