E-waste causes damage to environment

Time has come to draw the attention of authorities towards to the damage caused to the environment due to e-waste.
In today’s digital age, the use of mobile phones, laptops, televisions, refrigerators etc. is increasing rapidly. When these devices become old or damaged, people throw them away without thinking, due to which e-waste is increasing.

E-waste contains toxic chemicals, which pollute soil, water and air. When this waste is burnt or disposed of without using proper methods, it can spread serious diseases. Children and the elderly are particularly affected. An example of this can be seen in Delhi’s Seelampur and Moradabad, where e-waste is burned and shredded in an uncontrolled manner. This causes breathing problems to the people living there and toxins get mixed in water sources, increasing health problems.

Also, Bengaluru, which is called the ‘tech hub’ of India, is facing a massive problem of e-waste. The city generates about 92,000 tons of e-waste every year, but only a small part of it is recycled properly. Most of the e-waste goes to unauthorized scrap markets, where it is destroyed in unsafe ways, causing heavy metals to enter the environment and increasing pollution.

Solution
The solution to this problem is that people should not throw e-waste in the garbage, but deposit it at the authorized centers for proper recycling. The government also needs to make strict laws for this and make the public aware. It is necessary to develop special facilities for e-waste disposal in big cities, so that it can be recycled in a safe manner.