E-waste, or electronic waste, is a growing issue across the world. It includes any discarded electronic product, such as computers, televisions, cell phones, LCD panels, flat screens, printers, and other electrical and electronic equipment. Electronic devices are becoming outdated at an alarming rate, and with that comes an ever-growing amount of e-waste.

Electronic waste is damaging to the environment for three main reasons. Firstly, it is often filled with hazardous heavy metals, such as lead, mercury, and chromium, which can leach into the environment. Secondly, these materials are difficult to dispose of and pose a risk to human health safely. Thirdly, the recycling process can be energy-intensive and costly.

Therefore, E-waste management is the duty of all parties. Consumers, government, and companies are included. Electronics must be disposed of safely by businesses. Governments must create electronic recycling laws and regulations. Additionally, people must properly dispose of their electronics.

What's in e-waste?

Electronics devices are made of a complex mix of materials that included gold, silver, copper, platinium, palladium, lithium, cobalt and other valuable elements. The U.S. environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says, "One metric ton of circuit boards can contain 40 to 800 times the amount of gold mined from one metric ton of ore in the United States." These precious materials can be reclaimed through recycling.

But Electronic devices also comprise toxix heavy metals like lead, mercury, cadmium and beryllium, polluting PVC plastic, and hazardous chemicals, such as brominated flame retardants, which can harm human health and the enviroment.

Why the upsurge in e-waste?

Technology is becoming more and more integrated into every aspect of our lives. Semiconductors and sensors are being added to products that never before had them, creating wearble monitors, smart homes, TVs that can stream programming from the internet, and much more. Meanwhile, the life span of devices is getting shorter many products will be thrown away once their batteries die, to be replaced with new devices. Companies internationally plan the obsolescense of their goods by updating the design or software and discontinuing support for older models, so that now it is usually cheaper and easier to buy a new product than to repair an old one.