 “Two years ago, I decided to throw away my old

phone. Nothing special —I just tossed it in the trash

and moved on with my life”.
 “ But what I didn’t know …was that the story didn’t
end there. In fact, it was just the beginning“ .
 That phone traveled through a recycling center, got
torn into a hundred tiny pieces …and each piece
ended up somewhere different”.
 “ One piece ended up inside a refrigerator. Another
inside a car. And one piece —I don’t even know
how —became part of my neighbor’s Bluetooth
speaker …and he only listens to loud Saudi shaabi
music”!
 E WASTE
A Global Enviromental challenge.
INTRODUCTION TO E WASTE.

 Electronic waste, commonly known as e waste, refers to

discarded electronic devices such as smartphones,
computers, televisions, and household appliances. As
technology rapidly advances, old devices become
obsolete,
 leading to a surge in e waste. This issue is growing
worldwide, with millions of tons of electronic waste
generated each year. If not managed properly, e waste
can cause severe environmental and health problems.

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CAUSES OF E WASTE
 Several factors contribute to the increasing amount
of e waste:

RAPID TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS.1

CONSUMER CULTURE & FREQUENT .2

UPGRADES

LACK OF PROPER DISPOSAL .3

AWARENESS

SHORT PRODUCT LIFESPANS.4

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.1RAPID TECHNOLOGICAL
ADVANCEMENTS
 Technology evolves at an unprecedented
pace. Companies release new versions of
smartphones, laptops, and other devices
annually, making older models less desirable.
As a result, people frequently upgrade their
devices, leading to more electronic waste.

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.2CONSUMER CULTURE & FREQUENT
UPGRADES
 Modern society encourages constant upgrading.
Many consumers replace their devices, not because
they are broken, but simply because a newer version
is available. Marketing strategies by tech companies
play a major role in influencing people to buy new
gadgets.

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.3LACK OF PROPER DISPOSAL
AWARENESS
 Many people are unaware of how to
dispose of their electronic waste
responsibly. Some throw away old
electronics with regular trash, leading to
environmental hazards. Others store
outdated devices at home, increasing
ewaste accumulation over time.

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.4SHORT PRODUCT
LIFESPANS
 Many electronic products are designed with
limited lifespans.
 Manufacturers sometimes use strategies such as
planned obsolescence, where devices are
intentionally designed to become outdated or non
functional after a certain period .
 This forces consumers to buy new products more
frequently

EFFECTS OF E-WASTE
E waste has serious consequences for the
environment, human health, and the 8
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EFFECTS OF
E-WASTE .1ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
 Soil Contamination: E-waste contains
E waste has serious hazardous substances like lead, mercury, and
consequences for the cadmium. When dumped in landfills, these
environment, chemicals seep into the soil, making it toxic for
plants and animals .
,human health
.and the economy  Water Pollution: Toxic elements from e-waste
can leak into groundwater, contaminating
rivers and lakes. This affects marine life and can
lead to serious health issues for people who
consume polluted water .
 Air Pollution: Burning e-waste releases harmful
gases into the atmosphere. These gases
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HEALTH HAZARDS
Exposure to toxic chemicals from e-waste can cause severe health
problems, including lung diseases, brain damage, and cancer.
• Informal recycling methods, especially in developing countries,
involve burning or acid-stripping electronic components, which
releases harmful substances into the air.
• Workers in e-waste recycling centers often suffer from chronic
illnesses due to prolonged exposure to toxic elements .
ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES

E-waste contains valuable materials such as gold, silver, and copper. •

When improperly discarded, these resources are wasted instead of being
recycled and reused
.
The cost of managing e-waste is high. Governments and companies must •
.invest heavily in recycling facilities and waste management programs
E-WASTE
MANAGEMENT
STRATEGIES

 Different countries have

adopted various strategies to
manage e-waste more
effectively
 RECYCLING AND REUSING INITIATIVES

 •Some countries have established e-waste recycling

centers, where old devices are collected, dismantled,
and processed to recover valuable materials
 •Some countries have established e-waste recycling
centers, where old devices are collected, dismantled,
and processed to recover valuable materials .
 •Many organizations encourage device refurbishment—
repairing and reselling old electronics instead of
discarding them .
 •Tech companies like Apple and Samsung offer trade-in
programs, allowing customers to exchange old devices
for discounts on new purchases.
GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS
& POLICIES
 •Many governments have introduced
laws requiring electronics
manufacturers to take responsibility for
recycling their products .
 •Some regions have banned the
disposal of e-waste in landfills, forcing
companies and consumers to adopt
environmentally friendly disposal
methods .
 •International agreements, such as the
Basel Convention, regulate the
movement of hazardous electronic
waste across countries to prevent
dumping in developing nations.
SOLUTIONS TO THE E-WASTE
PROBLEM

 Whilee-waste is a growing challenge,

several solutions can help reduce its
impact.
 RAISING CONSUMER AWARENESS

 Educating people about the dangers of

e-waste and the importance of responsible
disposal is crucial.
 Awareness campaigns, school programs, and
online initiatives can encourage better waste
management practices .
 PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE
PRODUCT DESIGN

 Manufacturers should design electronics

that :
 •Last longer and are easier to repair. •
Use eco-friendly materials that are less
harmful to the environment .
 •Can be upgraded instead of
replaced, reducing the need for
frequent new purchases.
ENCOURAGING REPAIR &
REFURBISHMENT

 Instead of discarding damaged electronics,

people should be encouraged to repair or
refurbish them. Many organizations now offer
repair workshops and provide affordable spare
parts.
DEVELOPING EFFICIENT
RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES

 Advanced recycling techniques can

help recover valuable materials more
efficiently, reducing waste and
preventing environmental damage.
THE ECONOMIC SIDE OF
E-WASTE
CREATING JOBS IN
 E-wasterecycling is not just an
environmental concern—it also THE RECYCLING
presents economic opportunities. INDUSTRY

Establishing recycling centers generates •

employment opportunities in various
sectors, including collection, processing,
The demand for skilled •and research.
workers in e-waste management is
increasing, providing job stability and
.economic growth
REDUCING COSTS FUTURE
THROUGH MATERIAL INNOVATIONS
RECOVERY & SUSTAINABLE
 •Extracting valuable metals TECHNOLOGY
from e-waste can
significantly reduce As technology
production costs for advances, new
electronics manufacturers . solutions are
 •Recycling helps reduce the emerging to
demand for mining raw tackle the e-
materials, preserving natural waste problem
resources and reducing
environmental destruction.
FUTURE INNOVATIONS &
SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY NEW
RECYCLING
 Astechnology advances, new
solutions are emerging to tackle the TECHNOLOGIES
e-waste problem
Scientists are developing •
chemical processes to extract
metals from e-waste with minimal
.environmental impact

AI-driven sorting systems can •

help separate different
components efficiently,
.improving recycling rates
ECO-FRIENDLY PRODUCT DESIGNS
 •Companies are experimenting with
biodegradable and recyclable materials
for electronic devices. CIRCULAR ECONOMY
 • Some smartphones and laptops are STRATEGIES
now designed to be modular, allowing
users to replace individual components
instead of discarding the entire device. A circular economy promotes reusing, •
repairing, and recycling products rather
Companies •than disposing of them.
are adopting take-back programs,
where they reclaim old products for
.proper recycling and reuse
 E-waste is a serious environmental, health, and
economic issue that requires urgent action.
 While the causes of e-waste are largely driven by
technological advancements and consumer
behavior, effective solutions exist.
 Governments, companies, and individuals all play a
crucial role in addressing this problem. By promoting
awareness, improving recycling technologies, and
encouraging sustainable product designs, we can
reduce e-waste and protect the planet for future
generations

CONCLUSION
 CALL TO ACTION.

 •Think twice before upgrading to a new device.

 • Recycle old electronics properly.
 • Support companies that prioritize sustainability.
 The future of technology should not come at the cost
of our environment.
We cannot solve our problems “
Together, we can create a with the same thinking we used
cleaner and more sustainable ”.when we created them
.world Albert Einstein, Physicist –