E-Waste Is More Important Than You Realized

There are many negative impacts that come along with the issue of e-waste. As stated above, these trashed electronics are hosts to tons of precious metals that could potentially run out within the next century if changes are not made. As things stand now, the world is predicted to generate 120 million tons of e-waste by 2050, according to the United Nations, far more than double what is created currently. As precious metals found within the Earth start growing scarce, there is little need to continue mining them when so much is being held in e-waste. 

Another issue caused by the growing electronic trash is health problems. Developing countries are at the most risk, despite the fact that many of them have to deal with the e-waste of developed countries. Take India, for example, of which 70% of the e-waste the country deals with is not its own. The risks come from informal recycling methods, many of which involve exposure to toxic substances from the burning of e-waste. In Guiyu, a city in China with the largest amount of e-waste recycling in the world, 80% of the children there suffer from respiratory diseases due to these practices (via Electronics TakeBack Coalition).