Future prospects of e-waste

The processing of electronic waste has become one of the biggest challenges in recent years. Although phrasing an exact prediction is very difficult, the consumption of electronic equipment will continue to rise without any doubt. According to a recent study implemented by Pike Research, the amount of e-waste we have to cope with will peak by 2015. Afterwards, we should be able to reduce the disadvantageous environmental effects thanks to a policy based on government regulation, initiatives by producers and consumer awareness. We already discussed the importance of the government and the producers in detail in this blog. But like Mathias already cited, consumers have to think ecological as well. How aware are people that their televisions and computers contain toxic elements? Who really thinks about the environment when buying a new cell phone? Everyone knows that glass should be separated from plastic, but who can tell what is classified as e-waste? According to experts it’s important to inform the public more about the danger the growing use of electronic goods causes in order to solve this problem.

Jonas Dauwe

Sources:

http://www.reportage-enviro.com/2010/05/consumer-awareness-crucial-in-solving-e-waste-problems/

http://www.pikeresearch.com/newsroom/global-e-waste-crisis-is-worsening-but-the-tide-will-turn-in-2015