Introduction: Most people are aware of the negative effects that come from disposing of paper in landfills or burning it to make energy.

The electronic waste problem is a global issue that has been worsening over the decades. E-waste refers to discarded electronics such as computers, cellphones, refrigerators and TVs. According to Greenpeace, 40% of e-waste ends up in developing countries as their dumping ground for this hazardous waste.

An average person produces about four pounds of e-waste each year but the US alone produces more than 6 million tons of it annually. And this figure does not even include the toxic chemicals found in these devices such as lead, mercury and arsenic which can be harmful if released into the environment.

The term e-waste is usually associated with the rapid and rampant consumption of technology. Today, it’s not uncommon to see someone throwing away a phone after just one year or using a device for less than two years before getting a new one. On the other hand, it can also refer to any electronic device that has reached its end of life. This definition includes smartphones, laptops, TVs, and even microwaves.

When we are talking about e-waste in general there are two different types: toxic and recycling. The toxic category includes substances like mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium or flame retardants which are found in some equipment (computers), while recycling refers to devices that have reached their end of life and can be reused by breaking them down.

The EPA estimates that there is over 38 million tons of electronic waste being produced in the United States annually. This accounts for nearly 70% of all household waste in the country.

Electronic waste (e-waste) is a major environmental and public health concern. The UN has estimated that e-waste contains many hazardous materials, such as lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). These substances can have negative effects on human and environmental health when they are not properly recycled or disposed of.