Electronic waste, otherwise known as e-waste or WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment) is a term that encompasses all waste with electronic components. This definition can be refined as to include household appliances, computers and computer peripherals, monitors, TVs, audio and video equipment, telephony equipment, lighting, and battery operated toys.
Electronic waste is especially concerning for three reasons.
Summed up in one sentence, electronic waste is a growing source of hazardous waste that that has not been addressed in many[4] First worldW countries.
Every country that has legislation concerning electronic waste has their own definition, but European Directive 2002/96/EC[5] sums it up nicely.
The above categories include most items that include electronics, with the exception of biohazardous, military, and very large waste. The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations apply to electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) with a voltage of up to 1000 volts for alternating current or up to 1500 volts for direct current. Companies to comply with the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) Regulations if manufacture, produce or sell this type of equipment.
Electronic waste contains a number of hazardous materials, that will leach out or be released if disposed of improperly. Below is a list of constituent parts of electronic waste.
Among the substances, content varies wildly by electronic waste type. An account of this was written by Morf, L. et al..[12]
The electronics industry is an industry where technological improvements are being made rapidly, leading to the obsolescence of certain products very quickly. As an example, the lifespan of the average desktop computer in the USA is 2 years.[13]
Table 1: average electronic waste produced per person, by country
| Country | Production in kg/year | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | 5.515 | 2005 |
| United States | 4.479 | 2005 |
| United Kingdom | 17.384[14] | 2008 |
| Consumer electronics make up 40 % of the lead in [US] landfills.[15] |
In electronic waste, lead occurs mainly in two forms; in CRTW monitors and in lead solder. CRT monitors produce x-rays, as the result of accelerated electrons interacting with the glass of the display. Therefore, the glass of the display and the internal shielding is leaded. About 24% of the glass is lead oxide.[16]
Lead has a number of adverse effects on the human body, including decreased fertility in women, delayed mental development in children, and has been linked to a number of psychological conditions, Lead poisoningW occurs due to high lead concentrations in the blood, mainly from ambient environmental sources. There are a wide range of symptoms, including anemia, kidney and gastrointestinal issues and reduced nervous system response.
| About 70 % of the heavy metals (mercury and cadmium) in US landfills come from electronic waste.[17] |
Certain metals are directly dangerous to humans, while others impact us in other ways. Most of these metals play vital biological roles in out bodies, but become toxic if taken up in the wrong fashion or in too large a quantity.
Metals such as copper, zinc, antimony, and iron are poisonous in very small quantities (mg/kg of body mass levels) if ingested. Molecules containing these metals such as copper sulfate and tin salts are also extremely poisonous.
Other metals such as cadmium, chromium (VI), nickel compounds are IARC Group 1 carcinogens.[18]
Thallium is extremely dangerous, as even skin contact can be deadly.[19] Similarly, mercury poisoning results in organ damage or failure.
Brominated flame retardants such as PBDEW, HBCDW[20] and TBBPAW are present in many plastics.[21]
A number of compounds are added to plastic for a number of reasons. The additive bisphenol A recently received considerable media attention, after it was shown to cause acute reproductive issues.
Bioaccumulating toxins such as PCBW, PCDDW, PCDFW, and PBDEW are present in small quantities.[22] BioaccumulationW is a process in which an organism accumulates an unwanted substance in its body faster than it can be expelled. This process works in concert with biomagnificationW, to pose threats to human reproduction, and the development of the child. Numerous studies have shown that the above stated chemicals pose a long-term threat to human health.[23][24][25]
Main article: Metal reclamation and recycling of electronic waste
Electronic waste recycling is a complex task, especially when the safe disposal of numerous hazardous materials is required.
Main article: Electronic waste legislation and practices
Electronic waste legislation and practices vary by country, but there are a number of international initiatives, such as the 1989 Basel Conventions and the European Union’s Reduction of Hazardous Substances Directive.
As an individual, you have a considerable ability to influence the electronics industry and how the electronic waste you produce is handled and disposed of.
The ideal way to reduce the impact that electronic waste has on humanity, and the environment that sustains it, is by reducing our consumption of electronic devices. The electronics industry is a source of constant innovations and very short timespans between generations of technology. This creates a climate that encourages upgrading equipment before its useful lifespan is spent. Before purchasing electronics, as a gift or for yourself, consider what you will use it for and how long it is expected that it will be used for. Do the benefits outweigh the cost of the item and the impact it will eventually have?
As explained above, many electronic products are unwanted and disposed of even while they still function. If you no longer want an electronic item, consider selling or donating it to someone who would. Online services such as Freecycle , Freegle, Craigslist and EcoBees can help you find people would like these items.
If the electronics you no longer want have no value to anyone else, make sure that you take it to a local IT recycler. It is vital to entrust your personal or company data to a secure service. You must ensure your data is 100% destroyed.[26]
| License | CC-BY-SA-3.0 |
|---|---|
| Cite as | E.Paulin (2008–2026). "Electronic waste". Appropedia. Retrieved October 1, 2026. |