Page 16 - new final magazine big size september 2025

02 One-Third of Global Electronic Waste
Fun Fact Comes from Small Equipment

Small appliances such as microwaves,

01 E-waste contains Valuable Raw Materials such vacuums, Internet of Things devices and
vapes weigh less than large ones such as
as Gold and Silver that can be Recovered
dishwashers and refrigerators. Yet,
The idea of extracting gold from surprisingly, smaller equipment composes
electronic waste is not new. It is the largest portion of global electronic
estimated that a ton of electronic waste — 45 billion pounds annually. We
waste contains at least 10 times need to push back against manufacturers
more gold than a ton of regular who make products destined for the
ore from which gold is mined. dump. We shouldn’t tolerate disposable
Precious metals alone in the 2022 electronics such as vapes, or unnecessary
e-waste stream included an estimated “smart” products such as internet-en-
US $15 billion in gold, US$19 billion in copper, and abled toilet bowl trackers, toothbrushes
significant quantities of silver, palladium, and platinum. and microwaves.

Focusing solely on gold, some data suggests that one The waste from these small products
tonne of circuit board scrap can contain 40 to 800 adds up to billions of pounds and less
times more gold than a ton of primary gold ore. than one-eighth is even collected for
recycling

03 Developed Countries Export E-Waste to Developing Nations

Wealthy countries often ship their electronic waste to developing
nations (regions like Africa and Asia) where disposal costs are
lower. These shipments, which are sometimes illegal, are usually
sent to countries with limited regulations for handling hazardous
waste. This creates ethical and environmental concerns, as these
countries may lack the resources to properly manage e-waste,
leading to severe
environmental damage and unsafe working conditions. These
shipments often bypass regulations and are handled in unsafe
ways. Ethical issues arise due to exploitation and environmental harm in poorer countries.

04 Guinness World Record for Largest E-Waste

China is the world capital of electronic waste. Guiyu, in Guangdong province of southern China,
was until recently the largest e-waste dump in the world and a hub in the global e-waste trade.
Around 1.5 million tonnes of discarded computers, cell phones, and other electronics are processed
here each year, within an area of 52 km 2. E- waste is valued due to its content of precious metals
such as gold and copper, sometimes richer than a commercial mine. Due to a combination of prohibitive costs
and stringent environmental laws, recycling can be cumbersome in developed countries, which
incentivizes export to sites suchas Guiyu.

-2025
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