Electronic waste, also known as e-waste, is any electronic device discarded by its user and/or byproducts of its production. In a world where technology becomes obsolete and replaced after just a few years of use, the demand for e-waste management is increasing at the same rate as the demand for electronic devices rises.
These products pose a serious long-term health and environmental concern, and their effective, efficient and sustainable disposal should be on the radar of companies worldwide. In ASEAN, the demand for tech continues to grow, making the dumping or repurposing of this waste an issue of paramount importance.
What is e-waste?
Electronic waste includes an extensive range of products, from consumer electronics to industry-specific machinery. Its complex composition characterises e-waste since the electronic device often contains various materials, including metals, plastics, glass, and other hazardous substances.
Indonesian company Waste4Change categorises it into seven different sections:
- Information and Communication Technology and Telecommunications equipment (smartphones and tablets)
- Office electronics (Printers, copiers, scanners, etc.)
- Large household appliances (fridges and washing machines)
- Small household appliances (essentially any kitchen appliance)
- Consumer equipment (computers and audio devices)
- Medical equipment
- Toys/leisure equipment (video game consoles and battery-powered toys).
Another category for consideration is industrial equipment, with factories and manufacturing electronics being a part of this sector.
Why is it a threat?
The soil and water contamination due to toxic substances in these devices is a primary environmental concern. Tech waste contains lead, mercury, cadmium, brominated flame retardants, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). When these substances end up in the environment, they contaminate soil and water, directly threatening ecosystems. The contaminants work their way into the ground and could eventually affect drinking water sources and arable land. This mainly happens due to improper disposal, such as landfilling.
Another method to dispose of these devices is by burning them. However, it poses another health risk, as it releases harmful pollutants into the air, resulting in respiratory issues and other health problems for individuals close to these activities. Furthermore, people involved in informal e-waste recycling (often in developing countries) face exposure to dangerous substances without the protection of personal protective gear (PPG). This exposure can lead to serious health issues like respiratory problems, skin disorders, and long-term complications like neurological damage and reproductive issues.
Electronic waste in Southeast Asia
The escalating global concern of electronic waste is particularly worrying in Southeast Asia. Globally, the volume of tech waste reached a staggering 53.6 million metric tonnes in 2019, with e-waste expected to reach 74 million metric tonnes by 2030. This marked a 21% increase in the five years since 2014. As an economic powerhouse, Southeast Asia contributed significantly, generating approximately 3.5 million tonnes of such waste in 2019.
Predictions show this figure will likely surge along with the region's rapid technological advancement. As the internet penetration rate is skyrocketing, so is electronic device consumption (and disposal). Urbanisation and consumerism have fueled this surge, with smartphones, laptops, and other gadgets having a massive uptick in the turnover of electronic products.
While some nations have successfully implemented robust recycling programmes, others, specifically Indonesia, face the magnitude of electronic waste with inadequate infrastructure. According to a report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the archipelago nation alone is responsible for 47% of the total technology waste in the region. In response to this challenge, startups are stepping up to address the gaps in current e-waste management systems.
Malaysia, for example, has seen the emergence of companies like ERTH. Founded in 2018, the company buys all kinds of end-of-life personal electronics, such as PCs, laptops, smartphones, and other devices for recycling. Due to its unique accelerated supply chain process, it provides free pick-up service and pays higher prices for users' waste than public recycling centres.
Headquartered in the Kuala Lumpur suburb of CyberJaya, the company has won the United Nations' International Youth Innovation Winner award. It won the Malaysian champion and Global Top 25 for the Entrepreneurship World Cup, among other accolades. While other waste management startups abound, ERTH is one of the first that focuses entirely on e-waste management.
ERTH has hit the headlines recently with an undisclosed amount of funding from Gobi Partners. Gobi specialises in investing in talented, diverse entrepreneurs who create social value for underserved markets. Through a strong ESG foundation, these companies positively transform ecosystems, so ERTH is right in their area of influence.
As Southeast Asia faces the music behind its meteoric rise in consumption of devices, the future presents both challenges and opportunities. Increasing awareness of the situation will spur governments to create more programmes and stricter regulations on the disposal of technological waste, hopefully creating a more conscious consumption of electronic devices and promoting circular economies. The arrival of AI should help streamline the management processes and help the region diminish the dangers behind this hazardous situation.
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