E-waste management | Oviya Jawade | TEDxYouth@PalmRoad

Summary

The script discusses the growing threat of electronic waste (e-waste), which includes discarded electronics like phones and TVs. It explains how e-waste often ends up in landfills and junkyards, where toxic chemicals like mercury and lead can leak out, polluting land and water. Workers who dismantle e-waste face health risks from exposure. The script urges reducing e-waste by fixing devices, avoiding over-charging phones, and questioning if purchases are wants or needs. It concludes that individuals must work together to curb e-waste, as its unchecked growth causes pollution and climate change, threatening mass extinctions.

Takeaways

• 😟 E-waste or electronic waste from discarded electronics is growing at an alarming rate
• 🤔 E-waste contains precious metals but also many toxic elements that are released when improperly handled
• 😠 Improper e-waste recycling harms the health of workers and local communities
• 😥 Toxins from e-waste pollute land, air and groundwater
• 😢E-waste toxicity causes cancer, deformities in babies and developmental problems in children
• 😠 Overconsumption and short electronics lifespan drives the e-waste crisis
• 🤔 Repairing, reusing and updating electronics can extend product lifespans
• 😊 Donating used electronics can help those in need
• ⚠️ E-waste expansion fuels global warming and mass extinctions
• 👥 Collective action is needed to address the e-waste crisis through reduced consumption, proper recycling and policy changes

Q & A

What are electronic zombies or e-waste?

E-waste, also known as electronic waste, refers to discarded and end-of-life electronics like computers, phones, TVs, and other gadgets that are not working, useless or have reached the end of their useful life.

Why can't we stop generating e-waste even though we are aware of it?

Electronics like refrigerators, washing machines, TVs etc. have become necessities in our lives today, making it very difficult to stop usage and therefore generation of e-waste.

How does our attraction and obsession with electronic gadgets contribute to e-waste?

Our attraction to features like singing, dancing toys for children and multiple headphones for adults leads to discarding and replacements which adds to e-waste.

What happens to the e-waste when it reaches landfills and junkyards?

Junkyard workers try to extract precious metals from e-waste through acid baths and burning which releases toxic fumes into the air. It also leaks into the land, degrading it and polluting groundwater.

How does exposure to e-waste affect human health?

It causes cancer, diseases related to heart, lungs, liver, skeletal system and brain. It also leads to lower IQ and developmental issues in babies.

How can we reduce generation of e-waste at an individual level?

We can avoid frequently changing our electronics, repair and donate usable products, properly maintain devices by cleaning and updating software, and avoid overcharging batteries.

How much e-waste was generated globally in 2021?

57.4 million tons of e-waste was generated globally in 2021.

What impact does the dramatic increase in e-waste have?

It is leading to overfilling of junkyards which is expanding them, adding to pollution and global warming.

How are mass extinctions related to global warming caused by e-waste?

All five previous mass extinctions were related to climate change and global warming. The current global warming from e-waste pollution can lead to the sixth mass extinction.

What is the call to action to solve this e-waste crisis?

We all need to work together through small personal efforts to reduce, reuse, recycle electronics as well as political and industrial initiatives to safely process existing e-waste.