Title: Electronic waste - Wikipedia
Headings: Electronic waste
Electronic waste
Contents
Definition
Quantity
E-waste data 2016
E-waste data 2019
E-waste legislative frameworks
The Solving the E-waste Problem (StEP) initiative
Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
EU commission Legislation on Batteries & Accumulators (Batteries Directive)
European Union regulations on e-waste
International agreements
Global trade issues
Trade
Guiyu
Other informal e-waste recycling sites
Environmental impact
The environmental impact of the processing of different electronic waste components
Research
Information security
Recycling
Consumer awareness efforts
Processing techniques
Benefits of recycling
Repair as a means of reducing electronic waste
Electronic waste classification
Electronic waste substances
Hazardous
Generally non-hazardous
Human health and safety
Residents living near the recycling sites
Prenatal exposure and neonates' health
Children
E-waste recycling workers
Informal and formal industries
Hazard controls
See also
Policy and conventions:
Organizations:
Security:
General:
References
Further reading
External links

Content: Debate continues over the distinction between "commodity" and "waste" electronics definitions. Some exporters are accused of deliberately leaving difficult-to-recycle, obsolete, or non-repairable equipment mixed in loads of working equipment (though this may also come through ignorance, or to avoid more costly treatment processes). Protectionists may broaden the definition of "waste" electronics in order to protect domestic markets from working secondary equipment. The high value of the computer recycling subset of electronic waste (working and reusable laptops, desktops, and components like RAM) can help pay the cost of transportation for a larger number of worthless pieces than what can be achieved with display devices, which have less (or negative) scrap value. In A 2011 report, "Ghana E-Waste Country Assessment", found that of 215,000 tons of electronics imported to Ghana, 30% were brand new and 70% were used. Of the used product, the study concluded that 15% was not reused and was scrapped or discarded. This contrasts with published but uncredited claims that 80% of the imports into Ghana were being burned in primitive conditions. Quantity
A fragment of a discarded circuit board. E-waste is considered the "fastest-growing waste stream in the world" with 44.7 million tonnes generated in 2016- equivalent to 4500 Eiffel towers. In 2018, an estimated 50 million tonnes of e-waste was reported, thus the name ‘tsunami of e-waste’ given by the UN.