E-waste

Ever since the first personal computers (Altair) were released back in the 1974. The accumulation of e-waste has gradually increased until the early 2000's. From then on it has exponentially increased yearly. According to the UN in 2019 the total amount of e-waste produced weighed the same as approximately 350 mega cruise ships combined with only a small percentage (9.8%) being properly recycled in the United States. What's even more stunning is the $58 Billion worth of raw materials left in the e-waste. As the gold, silver, copper and other raw materials within e-waste are discarded in piles weighing millions of metric tons. Countries without the proper means to recycle them have to find other means to deal with the repercussions. As the process to recycling e-waste is hazardous in itself. The unrecycled e-waste contains heavy metals that can leach into the soil and water contaminating both. Such heavy metals are lead, mercury, cadmium, nickel and components of flame retardants. With the metals leaching into and contaminating the earth it effects the food and water supply humans consume causing health issues along with environmental destruction and loss of wildlife. Another thing to ponder on is, how do companies acquire all the raw materials for the electronic devices? Answer is mining. People are thrusted into mines to harvest the precious metals having to deal with extreme conditions and temperatures.