In the current age of increased dependence on technology and rapid innovations, e-waste has become a serious issue. E-waste is broadly defined as any product that has been discarded that has a plug or a battery. The World Health Organization has named e-waste as the world’s fastest-growing waste stream, with about 45 million tons created annually. This affects the environment negatively in many ways. The first issue with e-waste is that most electronics contain toxic substances like lead, mercury, and cadmium that leak into the environment when disposed of improperly. These contaminants can harm those who encounter them, and people have reported suffering from miscarriages, cancer, and neurological damage. Another issue is the loss of valuable, scarce materials that are in electronics such as neodymium, indium, and cobalt. These materials are nonrenewable and when they are discarded improperly, the resources and environmental impact of mining for more is extremely adverse.
According to the United Nations Global E-waste Monitor, e-waste is growing five times faster than recycling and is predicted to continually rise to reach 82 million tons in 2030. In 2022, less than a quarter of e-waste was collected and recycled. Smaller electronics like toys, vacuum cleaners, and e-cigarettes have low recycling rates at 12%. However, bigger electronics like TV screens and air conditioning units have much higher recycling rates. While people might not think recycling small electronics is as important, it is these small materials that build up and make up a larger part of landfills. The United States is one of the largest producers of e-waste, and it is predicted that recycling rates will continue to decrease until 2030. With no federal law to ensure proper recycling, we all must do our part to prevent this issue from becoming worse.
E-waste follows the same reduction hierarchy as regular waste: reduce, reuse recycle. The best method when it comes to e-waste is to prevent it before it even happens. This includes not always buying the newest phone or computer and using your electronics until they can’t be used anymore. There are also many things you can do to extend the lifespan of your electronics including keeping up with system updates, protecting the battery life by optimizing it in settings and avoiding exposure to extreme temperatures, investing in a durable case, and keeping your device clean from dust. When the device does become unusable, recycle it properly or donate it.
The University of Arkansas has many resources to help you recycle electronics properly. There are locations spread throughout campus that accept e-waste, including the Bookstore, Admin Building, Old Main, and the Science and Engineering building. There are also many other locations in Fayetteville that accept e-waste or electronic donations. Free Geek is open from Wednesday to Saturday from 12pm-6pm, and it is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to keeping electronics out of landfills. Goodwill also accepts some electronic donations, and the specific items can be found on its website. The City of Fayetteville asks that e-waste be taken to Boston Mountain Solid Waste to be recycled properly.