Electronic waste and its impact on the environment

Abstract:

This study addresses the problem of "e-waste, its environmental impacts, and sustainable management strategies" in light of the massive digital revolution, unprecedented technological acceleration, and the "planned obsolescence" policies adopted by manufacturers. This has led to a record-breaking surge in the flow of digital waste globally and locally, exceeding even traditional municipal waste. The fundamental danger of this waste lies in its complex composition, which combines non-biodegradable plastics, heavy metals, and toxic organic compounds. The study aimed to diagnose the current state of managing this waste, monitor its environmental, hydrological, and health repercussions, and explore legal and technical solutions to transform this environmental challenge into a developmental and economic resource within the framework of a circular economy. The study adopted a descriptive-analytical approach, drawing on theoretical literature and previous reference studies, along with the realities of waste management in developing and developed environments.                                                                                                                                              

The results demonstrated the seriousness of the "cross-contamination" mechanism. Heavy metal ions (such as lead, mercury, and cadmium) are released through oxidation reactions and changes in pH in random and open dumps. They sleep with rainwater through the earth's layers to settle in groundwater reservoirs and agricultural soil, eventually reaching the atmosphere through emissions from uncontrolled burning. This leads to bioaccumulation in the food chain and directly threatens human health. The results also revealed a severe legislative and governance gap, particularly in developing countries, causing environmental depletion and huge financial losses due to the lack of infrastructure for "urban mining" technologies capable of recovering precious metals (silver and copper) and rare earth elements. The study concluded by presenting a set of procedural recommendations, most notably activating the principle of "extended producer responsibility" (EPR) to ensure companies' commitment to the life cycle of their products, integrating the informal sector (waste collectors) into a safe, formal system, and adopting an advanced technological model based on Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Remote sensing (RS) techniques are used to remodel and define the spatial parameters of landfills, and to chemically isolate them to protect freshwater basins and sensitive ecosystems.