Recently the United nations institute for training and Research released Global e waste monitor 2024 , which states that the global electronic waste is rising significantly at a rate of 5 times faster. So it is important to find effective solutions to Reduce e waste.

E WASTE refers to all kind of discarded and end of life electrical and electronic materials. It is not hazardous if they are stored , recycled ,dismantled safely and properly. But the  problem is they are not disposed properly so we should considered it as hazardous.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF E WASTE :

•  electronic waste contains various toxic chemicals and metals like cadmium, lead , mercury etc which will harm the environment.
• Improper disposal process of electronic devices lead to release of toxic chemicals and greenhouse gases in air which results in air pollution.
• E waste pollutants contaminates water bodies which will affects the marine life .
•  contamination of ground water affects the drinking water.
• When disposed in soil the pollutants contaminates the soil and leads to acidification of soil, infertility etc.
• Buring of e waste results in release of toxic gases in air.
• Ecosystem and biodiversity will get affected by e waste .
• Emission of greenhouse gases will lead to global warming.

MEASURES TO CONTROL E WASTE:

• An effective e waste collection framework like collection centres are necessary to collect and dispose properly.
• Producer should has responsibility in collecting and disposing.
• Recycling of e waste in proper way is important to reduce increasing  e waste.
• Reusing and selling of unused products helps to control e waste.
• Government should frame and  implement polices , rules to reduce e waste.
• Through awareness programmes educate the people about e waste  recycling process .
• Citizen participation in collecting and recycling of e waste is necessary.

These are some effective solutions which helps to mitigate e-waste.

India is third biggest e waste generating country in the world so we  also had major role in mitigating e-  waste. With implementing existing E Waste Management rules,2022 other actions are required to tackle increasing e- waste .