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Abstract Increased demand for electrical and electronic equipment as well as a
reduction in the end of life of most electrical products has led to the generation of
large amount of E-waste. These wastes contain both beneficial and hazardous
components. Therefore, there should be proper management of E-waste in order to
protect man and the environment. In this review, we addressed the various categories deployed towards effective E-waste management such as collection and disposal of dangerous portions and recovery of precious metals and energy. The
benefits, challenges and future of E-waste management were also highlighted.
Keywords E-waste · Recycling · A printed wiring board · Precious metals ·
Material flow analysis · Life cycle assessment · Metallurgy · Heavy metals · Plastic
· Extended producer responsibility
8.1 Introduction
Implications of Uncontrolled Management of Waste Electronics
A lot of E-waste components are generated in many countries mostly in low- and
middle-income households, and these E-wastes are often disposed into wild landfills. In some of these countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, India, Pakistan, China
and the Philippines, E-wastes are dismantled using simple equipment to retrieve
vital metals by unexpected and untrained persons without much consideration for
environmental and public health (Ikhlayel 2018). In these countries, E-waste salvaging predominantly involves processes such as burning of wires in open spaces
to retrieve copper from the interior while confiscating the plastic part, also the
extraction of precious metals such as silver, gold and platinum from printed wiring
boards.
Many reports in the literature have outlined the components of E-wastes which
are known toxicants that have deleterious effects on human health. These toxicants
including heavy metals and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been shown to
be rampant in sediments, air and aquatic biotas in regions where E-wastes abound.
The negative effects of these toxicants on organisms range from acute effects, endocrine disruption, reproductive dysfunction and cancer (Zhang et al. 2014).
The management of electronic and electrical wastes (E-waste) in various
regions of the world has received tremendous attention recently owing to the
already established negative eco-impact(s) of these very hazardous waste materials. Several studies done in relation to E-waste management have shown that
E-waste(s) management seems to be region-specific as many countries have implemented varied policies to check the rampaging of these wastes materials in that
region (Townsend 2011).
The transboundary movement of E-waste from developed countries to developing countries has been a major issue of concern for a long time (Townsend 2011).
There is still a great deal of work as regards E-waste management in developing
countries. However, the opposite can be said in the case of developed nations
C. O. Onwosi et al.
Abstract Increased demand for electrical and electronic equipment as well as a
reduction in the end of life of most electrical products has led to the generation of
large amount of E-waste. These wastes contain both beneficial and hazardous
components. Therefore, there should be proper management of E-waste in order to
protect man and the environment. In this review, we addressed the various categories deployed towards effective E-waste management such as collection and disposal of dangerous portions and recovery of precious metals and energy. The
benefits, challenges and future of E-waste management were also highlighted.
Keywords E-waste · Recycling · A printed wiring board · Precious metals ·
Material flow analysis · Life cycle assessment · Metallurgy · Heavy metals · Plastic
· Extended producer responsibility
8.1 Introduction
Implications of Uncontrolled Management of Waste Electronics
A lot of E-waste components are generated in many countries mostly in low- and
middle-income households, and these E-wastes are often disposed into wild landfills. In some of these countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, India, Pakistan, China
and the Philippines, E-wastes are dismantled using simple equipment to retrieve
vital metals by unexpected and untrained persons without much consideration for
environmental and public health (Ikhlayel 2018). In these countries, E-waste salvaging predominantly involves processes such as burning of wires in open spaces
to retrieve copper from the interior while confiscating the plastic part, also the
extraction of precious metals such as silver, gold and platinum from printed wiring
boards.
Many reports in the literature have outlined the components of E-wastes which
are known toxicants that have deleterious effects on human health. These toxicants
including heavy metals and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been shown to
be rampant in sediments, air and aquatic biotas in regions where E-wastes abound.
The negative effects of these toxicants on organisms range from acute effects, endocrine disruption, reproductive dysfunction and cancer (Zhang et al. 2014).
The management of electronic and electrical wastes (E-waste) in various
regions of the world has received tremendous attention recently owing to the
already established negative eco-impact(s) of these very hazardous waste materials. Several studies done in relation to E-waste management have shown that
E-waste(s) management seems to be region-specific as many countries have implemented varied policies to check the rampaging of these wastes materials in that
region (Townsend 2011).
The transboundary movement of E-waste from developed countries to developing countries has been a major issue of concern for a long time (Townsend 2011).
There is still a great deal of work as regards E-waste management in developing
countries. However, the opposite can be said in the case of developed nations
C. O. Onwosi et al.