Investigation Of The Energy, Environment And Social Impacts Of The Informal Electronic And Electronic Waste Recycling Industry In The Guangdong Province Of China

Abstract

High consumer demand and obsolescence of technology has led to the growth of a major global issue: electrical and electronic waste, otherwise known as e-waste. The global production of e-waste is expected to grow an average of four percent per annum, creating a mounting problem for developing countries, such as China, as the developed world ships its unwanted e-waste under the guise of recycling. A major culprit is the United States, which exports 27% of its e-waste to China, where it is processed using crude methods. Such techniques have resulted in heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants contamination of the air, land and water. The quality of life for e-waste recycling communities in the Guangdong Province has been drastically reduced due to the degraded environmental conditions and the resulting health issues.