The three biggest negative effects of E-waste on the environment

E-waste is a growing concern for environmentalists worldwide. With the average Australian adult upgrading their mobile device once every twelve to eighteen months, the battle for e-waste looks as if it may be a losing one. 

Some of you may be thinking, ‘what is e-waste and what does it do?’, well e-waste is any form of discarded electronic device, such as mobile phones, tablets and laptops. E-waste is incredibly harmful to the environment and so we’ve compiled a list of the three most damaging effects of e-waste on the planet to help educate you on what your device gets up to once you dump it. 

Number 1 - soil pollution:

The most damaging effect of e-waste is the effect that it has on soil. Soil pollution occurs mainly when e-waste is dumped and disregarded in legal and illegal dumping sites.

E-waste contains many incredibly toxic and harmful chemicals such as lead, cadmium, mercury and organic compounds such as flame retardants which when dumped can often make their way into the surrounding soil. 

Generally, soil polluted with these elements is no longer fertile for planting and can damage and destroy local flora and fauna, including any humans close to the area. 

Number 2 - water pollution:

Another harmful effect of e-waste is water pollution. Polluting of waterways and poisoning of aquatic flora and fauna occurs when runoff from polluted soil occurs or when someone disposes of e-waste improperly and illegally in waterways. 

This affects developing countries severely, with their access to filtered drinking water limited and a large amount of dumping of e-waste occurring in these locations. 

Number 3 - air pollution:

Contamination in the air occurs when e-waste is disposed by dismantling, shredding or melting the materials, releasing dust particles or toxins into the environment that cause air pollution. 

Many unofficial e-waste recycling facilities will burn or melt down waste to recover the valuable metals that remain, but this allows the toxic components to escape and wreak havoc on the environment. 

Air pollution has negative effects on all animals and humans living within the immediate area, not to mention the air itself which can cross-pollute water and soil, destroying entire ecosystems and killing fauna and flora. 

So there you have it, the three most damaging effects of e-waste, but what can you do to help? 

At King IT we have a number of initiatives in place to help reduce e-waste and encourage sustainable practices. Instead of buying new devices, try picking up a quality refurbished device to save yourself some money and save the environment too! 

If you’re looking to upgrade your technology then don’t throw that old phone or computer away, there are people in need of devices just like the ones you’re considering tossing out. Be sure to drop in to your nearest store and donate them so that your old technology can find a new life helping those in need.