Action needed now to stop human health and environmental disasters
Overview Computer electronic waste (e-waste) is the swiftest growing solid waste stream in the world. It is one of the highest problematic components of the solid waste streams in urban areas [1]. It is a risk to human health and the environment because of the hazardous nature of its contents. The voluminous computer e-waste generated creates a major disposal management challenge especially in the low-income countries of the world. Information on how these countries are disposing of their computer e-waste is lacking. It is also not clear how knowledgeable consumers and marketplace actors in e-waste uphold the potential human health and environmental hazards presented by unsustainable disposal management approaches for this type of waste. This study was conceived to generate information on the same. This policy brief identifies the computer e-waste disposal management approaches; determines the potential effects on human health and environment; evaluates the level of public awareness on potential effects on human health; and possible planning, policy and regulatory interventions for sustainable computer e-waste disposal in the public institutions, private companies and households.