The Scale of the Global E-waste Crisis
Electronic waste has emerged as one of the most pressing environmental and health challenges of our time. E-waste is one of the fastest growing solid waste streams in the world, with devastating consequences for human health and the environment when not properly managed.
Staggering Global Statistics
The numbers paint a sobering picture of our electronic consumption:
- 62 million tonnes of e-waste were produced globally in 2022
- Only 22.3% was documented as formally collected and recycled
- Less than a quarter of global e-waste receives proper treatment
This massive volume of improperly managed electronic waste creates significant health and environmental risks, particularly for vulnerable populations in low- and middle-income countries.
What Constitutes E-waste?
Electronic waste encompasses a broad range of discarded electrical and electronic devices, including:
- Computers and mobile phones
- Large household appliances
- Medical equipment
- Various consumer electronics
These devices contain valuable resources that could be reused if recycled appropriately, but they also harbor dangerous substances that pose serious health risks when handled improperly.
The Toxic Reality of Informal E-waste Recycling
When e-waste is processed through informal recycling activities, it can release up to 1,000 different chemical substances into the environment. Many of these are known neurotoxicants, including lead, which is commonly released during unsafe recycling practices.
Hazardous Recycling Practices
Unsafe e-waste processing activities include:
- Scavenging from waste sites
- Open burning or heating - considered the most hazardous due to toxic fumes
- Acid baths and acid leaching
- Manual disassembly without proper protection
- Stripping and shredding plastic coatings
- Dumping on land or in water bodies
These activities contaminate air, soil, dust, and water at recycling sites and in neighboring communities. The toxic pollutants can travel significant distances, exposing people far from the original contamination source.
Children: The Most Vulnerable Population
Children and pregnant women face the greatest risks from e-waste exposure due to their unique vulnerabilities and exposure pathways.
Child Labor in E-waste Processing
The International Labour Organization estimates that 16.5 million children were working in the industrial sector in 2020, with waste processing as a significant subsector. Children are often involved in:
- Waste picking and scavenging
- Burning discarded e-waste
- Manual dismantlement of electronic items
In some regions, children serve as cheap labor, with their small hands providing an advantage in taking apart the smallest electronic components. This work is classified as hazardous labor and represents one of the worst forms of child labor.
Devastating Health Impacts on Children
E-waste exposure has been linked to severe health effects in children and during pregnancy:
Pregnancy and Neonatal Outcomes
- Increased rates of stillbirth
- Premature birth
- Other adverse neonatal outcomes
Neurodevelopmental Effects
- Learning and behavioral problems, especially from lead exposure
- Disrupted central nervous system development during critical periods
- Potential lifelong cognitive impacts
Respiratory Health
- Reduced lung and respiratory function
- Increased asthma incidence
- Structural lung development changes
Why Children Are Especially Vulnerable
Children face unique risks from e-waste exposure because:
- Developing systems: Their respiratory, immune, and central nervous systems are rapidly developing
- High sensitivity: Fetuses and young children are highly sensitive to pollutants
- Exposure pathways: Toxic chemicals can cross the placenta and contaminate breastmilk
- Long-term impact: Changes during development can cause irreparable harm lasting throughout life
International Response and Prevention Strategies
Global Agreements and Legislation
Several international frameworks address the e-waste crisis:
The Basel Convention
This comprehensive environmental agreement controls the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes, including e-waste. The 2019 Ban Amendment prohibits the movement of hazardous wastes from OECD countries to other states party to the Convention.
Regional Conventions
- Bamako Convention: Restricts hazardous waste movement in African countries
- Waigani Convention: Addresses e-waste issues in South Pacific countries
Essential Prevention and Management Actions
Protecting communities from unsafe e-waste recycling requires coordinated action:
- Adopting high-level international agreements
- Developing national e-waste legislation with health protection measures
- Monitoring e-waste sites and surrounding communities
- Implementing interventions to improve informal recycling while protecting health
- Educating health workers on e-waste-related health issues
- Eliminating child labor in e-waste processing
WHO's Global Response Initiative
The World Health Organization has launched a comprehensive Initiative on E-waste and Child Health, working on international programs and pilot projects across Latin America and Africa.
Key Objectives
WHO's initiative aims to:
- Increase access to evidence and awareness of e-waste health effects
- Improve health sector capacity to manage and prevent risks
- Facilitate monitoring of e-waste exposures and protective interventions
Educational Resources and Training
WHO has developed comprehensive training tools including:
- Training packages for healthcare providers
- Specific modules on e-waste and child health
- Multi-agency capacity training tools
- MOOCs and joint courses with international partners
The Path Forward
The global e-waste crisis demands urgent, coordinated action. With millions of tonnes of electronic waste generated annually and only a fraction properly recycled, the health risks—particularly to children—continue to escalate.
Effective solutions require:
- Stronger international cooperation and enforcement
- Investment in safe recycling infrastructure
- Protection of vulnerable populations, especially children
- Health sector preparedness and training
- Community education and awareness
As electronic device consumption continues to grow globally, addressing the e-waste crisis becomes increasingly critical for protecting public health and environmental sustainability. The time for action is now—before more communities and children suffer the devastating health consequences of improperly managed electronic waste.