E-waste management

The culture of dumping e-waste indiscriminately has also assumed a formidable proportions

It is heartening to note that the visiting Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) Li Yong on Wednesday assured Bangladesh of providing technical support in managing its electronic waste (e-waste), according to a report of this newspaper yesterday. Safe management of electronic and electrical waste (e-waste) is becoming a cumbersome problem for many countries around the world including Bangladesh. In particular, developing countries face a number of issues with the generation, trans-boundary movement and management of e-waste. Handling of e-waste in a haphazard manner can cause harm to the environment and human health because of its toxic components. In fact,  e-waste management in cities and towns in our country is far from satisfactory.  

   Bangladesh is a country of moderately rapid economic growth with emerging market for consumers of electric, electronic gadgets and home appliances etc.  from home and abroad. These are used and reused in several times and dimensions. Equipment is largely refurbished and recycled in semiformal and informal sectors. Reuse or recycle of equipments as well as dumping are creating risk in the recent times. These electronic wastes cause environmental and health hazards for living  and non-living part in different ways. Dealing with the informal recycling sector is a complex social and environmental issue. Presently, there are lack of public awareness and adequate information gap on e-waste hazards in the country.

 Electronic waste (e-waste) may be defined as all secondary electronic goods including computers, entertainment device electronics, phone sets /mobile phones sets, air coolers, televisions, VCRs, stereos, copiers, and fax machine, electronic medical and dental equipments, refrigerators, whether sold, donated or  discarded by their original owners. Many of these products can be reused, refurbished or recycled. Unfortunately, electronic discards is one of the growing segments of our nation's waste stream but mostly these are ignored.

 As the cities and towns have expanded both horizontally and vertically with their burgeoning population, those are also confronted with a myriad of problems. The bad culture of dumping e-waste indiscriminately has also assumed a formidable problem.  The issue of e-waste management should be taken seriously. There is no room for foot-dragging and dilly-dallying. Mere allocation of funds will do little if accountability and transparency of works done are not ensured. The overall mindset of the people should be changed. Awareness should be generated among people to keep environment neat and clean.  Members of the law enforcing agencies, environmentalists and members of the civil society can also play vital roles in this regard. 

E-waste management

The culture of dumping e-waste indiscriminately has also assumed a formidable proportions

It is heartening to note that the visiting Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) Li Yong on Wednesday assured Bangladesh of providing technical support in managing its electronic waste (e-waste), according to a report of this newspaper yesterday. Safe management of electronic and electrical waste (e-waste) is becoming a cumbersome problem for many countries around the world including Bangladesh. In particular, developing countries face a number of issues with the generation, trans-boundary movement and management of e-waste. Handling of e-waste in a haphazard manner can cause harm to the environment and human health because of its toxic components. In fact, e-waste management in cities and towns in our country is far from satisfactory. Bangladesh is a country of moderately rapid economic growth with emerging market for consumers of electric, electronic gadgets and home appliances etc. from home and abroad. These are used and reused in several times and dimensions. Equipment is largely refurbished and recycled in semiformal and informal sectors. Reuse or recycle of equipments as well as dumping are creating risk in the recent times. These electronic wastes cause environmental and health hazards for living and non-living part in different ways. Dealing with the informal recycling sector is a complex social and environmental issue. Presently, there are lack of public awareness and adequate information gap on e-waste hazards in the country. Electronic waste (e-waste) may be defined as all secondary electronic goods including computers, entertainment device electronics, phone sets /mobile phones sets, air coolers, televisions, VCRs, stereos, copiers, and fax machine, electronic medical and dental equipments, refrigerators, whether sold, donated or discarded by their original owners. Many of these products can be reused, refurbished or recycled. Unfortunately, electronic discards is one of the growing segments of our nations waste stream but mostly these are ignored. As the cities and towns have expanded both horizontally and vertically with their burgeoning population, those are also confronted with a myriad of problems. The bad culture of dumping e-waste indiscriminately has also assumed a formidable problem. The issue of e-waste management should be taken seriously. There is no room for foot-dragging and dilly-dallying. Mere allocation of funds will do little if accountability and transparency of works done are not ensured. The overall mindset of the people should be changed. Awareness should be generated among people to keep environment neat and clean. Members of the law enforcing agencies, environmentalists and members of the civil society can also play vital roles in this regard.