The rapid development of the digital age has changed our lives in an unimaginable way. Starting from the smartphone in our hands today, to the refrigerator, washing machine, computer, TV in our homes, everything has made our daily work easier. But behind this comfort and convenience of technology, there is a terrible reality hidden: the increasing pressure of electronic waste or e-waste. This is a silent poison, which is slowly mixing with the air we breathe, the soil we eat, and the water sources, burning the future. As the use of technology increases, the amount of e-waste is also increasing rapidly, and we may not realize when this waste is putting our lives, the environment, and future generations in danger.
The main problem with e-waste is that it carries more toxic chemicals than it carries valuable metals. The lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, nickel, and various harmful compounds in plastic found in discarded electronic devices are so harmful to the human body that even in small amounts they can cause serious diseases in the long run. Lead hinders brain development in children, mercury damages the nervous system, cadmium can render the kidneys useless, and chemicals released from plastic disrupt the balance of hormones and cause various complications. All of this happens slowly, silently; so the threat is not understood at first, and that is the most dangerous.
About 60 million tons of e-waste are generated worldwide every year, of which only one-fifth is safely recycled. Where does the rest go? Most e-waste ends up in landfills, riverbanks, drains, open spaces, or small informal factories where even children and adolescents work. When this waste is broken down or burned, toxic fumes are released into the air. Chemicals mixed with rainwater reach groundwater, reducing soil fertility. Ultimately, they enter the human food chain and cause various diseases. The easier it is for harmful chemicals to spread into the air, soil, and water, the harder it is to get them back. As a result, the harm from e-waste is never limited to today; it can continue for generations.
The problem of e-waste in Bangladesh is becoming increasingly serious. With the increasing use of technology, millions of tons of e-waste are being accumulated every year, a large part of which is disposed of in the informal sector. In various areas of the capital, Narayanganj or around Chittagong, small temporary workshops are dismantled for technological equipment. Here, workers work day and night with almost no protection. Plastic is melted with heaters in their hands, microchips are broken, and toxic fumes are released into the air while cutting batteries. Children who do this work at a young age are exposed to lung damage, skin irritation, headaches, eye irritation, and even cancer in the long term. Not only the workers, but also the residents around these workshops are subject to these toxic effects. But since these problems manifest themselves over time, people are rarely aware of this.
Another big problem in our country is that the general public has no idea how to dispose of e-waste. When a mobile phone breaks, many people throw it in the dustbin, throw the battery down the drain, or leave old electronic items on the side of the road. When this waste accumulates in the dustbin, it mixes with other waste and spreads poison in the environment. Battery acid thrown down the drain mixes with water, which pollutes river water and is very harmful to aquatic animals. Old chargers, wires, chips—these small things can also cause huge damage to the environment. Yet we all think that these are not very harmful.
However, e-waste is not only endangering human health, it is also damaging the entire ecosystem. Soil fertility is lost, reducing agricultural production, rivers and canals are polluted, reducing fish numbers or even dying, birds and small animals are gradually affected by ingesting these harmful particles while eating. In many cases, it is seen that due to e-waste, plants in an area are drying up or soil quality is deteriorating. This damage to the environment can increase climate change and natural disasters in the long run. Therefore, e-waste not only harms the health and environment of a country, but also the economy.
To reduce this growing threat of e-waste, awareness and proper management are needed. First, people need to know that e-waste is a dangerous thing and it should not be mixed with general waste in any way. It is important to educate about e-waste in schools, colleges, universities, social organizations everywhere. Second, the government needs to formally develop an e-waste collection and recycling system. Every district and city can have specific e-waste deposit centers, where people can safely deposit their old devices. At the same time, technology companies also have a responsibility. In many countries, big companies take back old devices and recycle them; such initiatives need to be expanded in our country too.
The most important thing is personal responsibility. Until we take this problem seriously from our own perspective, there will be no solution. We need to reduce unnecessary device replacement, and use any technology that is usable as long as possible. Broken devices should be taken to the right collection center instead of throwing them on the side of the road or in the dustbin. Batteries, chargers, or small spare parts should be stored separately. Proper management of the amount of e-waste generated by a family per year will greatly reduce the pressure on the environment.
At the end of the day, the most important question is, do we want to pass on a safe world to our future generations, or will we inherit a toxic world? Today, we, who enjoy the benefits of technology, have the greatest responsibility. We do not have the right to return the world with more damage than we have taken. Therefore, we cannot ignore the terrible, silent danger like e-waste. If we are aware today and fulfill small responsibilities, it is possible to create a safe, sustainable environment by reducing the unspoken threat of e-waste.
