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For Shagun et al. (2013), E-waste is a popular name for electrical and electronic
equipment at the end of their life cycle. The term is possibly the most used in technical literature and encompasses several forms of electrical and electronic equipment
that have lost their value to their owners (Garlapati 2016).
The Brazilian Centro de Tecnologia Mineral calls electronic or technological
waste any waste generated from the disposal of electronic equipment that may be
recycled, like computers, cell phones, portable electronics, TVs, batteries, radios,
and other devices (CETEM 2015).
For Nicolai (2016), E-waste is composed of the raw materials obtained from
waste generated after the use of electronic equipment that is not usable anymore and
is directed to recovery, recycling, or disposal.
E-waste is generated when electrical and electronic equipment has lost their
value or cannot be used as originally designed. This happens because the electrical
and electronic equipment are replaced by new, more advanced products or are damaged beyond repair. The increasing array of electrical and electronic equipment that
ends as E-waste includes home appliances like refrigerators, air conditioning systems, cell phones, and computers (Jaiswal et al. 2015; Britannica Academic 2016).
Currently, E-waste is considered the most widely generated waste in the world,
with growth rates at between 3% and 5% a year (Cucchiella et al. 2015).
10.3.2 The Global Scenario of E-waste Generation
It has been estimated that 41.8 million tons of E-waste were generated in 2014,
representing 5.9 kg per person, at the global level (GSMA 2015; STEP 2015). The
largest amounts of E-waste were generated from small (13 million tons) and large
(11 million tons) devices (Table 10.2). As a rule, E-waste is classified into five or six
categories, from small devices to a specific group that includes screens.
Data from GSMA (2015) indicate that most E-waste is generated in Asia, which
contributed 16 million tons of this kind of waste in 2014 (38% of the total amount
of this waste in the planet). Europe comes second, generating 28% of the world’s
E-waste, followed by North America (19%), Latin America (9%), Africa (5%), and
Oceania (1%) (GSMA 2015). According to a report published by the United Nations
Environment Program, the electronic sector generates 41 million tons of E-waste
every year, and it has been estimated that this value would reach 50 million tons in
2017 (UNEP 2015). The report also informed that between 60% and 90% of this
waste is illegally sold or disposed of as common waste.
10.3.2.1 Impact of Waste Generation at the Global Level and Flow
The illegal transportation of hazardous waste from developed countries to developing nations causes great concern worldwide due to high treatment and disposal costs
and ineffective environmental regulations (or absence thereof), in addition to poor
10 E-waste Management and the Conservation of Geochemical Scarce Resources
For Shagun et al. (2013), E-waste is a popular name for electrical and electronic
equipment at the end of their life cycle. The term is possibly the most used in technical literature and encompasses several forms of electrical and electronic equipment
that have lost their value to their owners (Garlapati 2016).
The Brazilian Centro de Tecnologia Mineral calls electronic or technological
waste any waste generated from the disposal of electronic equipment that may be
recycled, like computers, cell phones, portable electronics, TVs, batteries, radios,
and other devices (CETEM 2015).
For Nicolai (2016), E-waste is composed of the raw materials obtained from
waste generated after the use of electronic equipment that is not usable anymore and
is directed to recovery, recycling, or disposal.
E-waste is generated when electrical and electronic equipment has lost their
value or cannot be used as originally designed. This happens because the electrical
and electronic equipment are replaced by new, more advanced products or are damaged beyond repair. The increasing array of electrical and electronic equipment that
ends as E-waste includes home appliances like refrigerators, air conditioning systems, cell phones, and computers (Jaiswal et al. 2015; Britannica Academic 2016).
Currently, E-waste is considered the most widely generated waste in the world,
with growth rates at between 3% and 5% a year (Cucchiella et al. 2015).
10.3.2 The Global Scenario of E-waste Generation
It has been estimated that 41.8 million tons of E-waste were generated in 2014,
representing 5.9 kg per person, at the global level (GSMA 2015; STEP 2015). The
largest amounts of E-waste were generated from small (13 million tons) and large
(11 million tons) devices (Table 10.2). As a rule, E-waste is classified into five or six
categories, from small devices to a specific group that includes screens.
Data from GSMA (2015) indicate that most E-waste is generated in Asia, which
contributed 16 million tons of this kind of waste in 2014 (38% of the total amount
of this waste in the planet). Europe comes second, generating 28% of the world’s
E-waste, followed by North America (19%), Latin America (9%), Africa (5%), and
Oceania (1%) (GSMA 2015). According to a report published by the United Nations
Environment Program, the electronic sector generates 41 million tons of E-waste
every year, and it has been estimated that this value would reach 50 million tons in
2017 (UNEP 2015). The report also informed that between 60% and 90% of this
waste is illegally sold or disposed of as common waste.
10.3.2.1 Impact of Waste Generation at the Global Level and Flow
The illegal transportation of hazardous waste from developed countries to developing nations causes great concern worldwide due to high treatment and disposal costs
and ineffective environmental regulations (or absence thereof), in addition to poor
10 E-waste Management and the Conservation of Geochemical Scarce Resources