Every day, hundreds of kilograms of electronic waste or e-waste are collected in Khulna city but the city corporation does not have the capacity to manage this waste. As a result, health risks are increasing. Abandoned TVs, refrigerators, computers, laptops, cameras, air conditioners, microwaves, CFL lights, washing machines, mobile phones, DVD players, electronic toys, among others, are the main sources of e-waste, city officials said. When these items are discarded, they turn into “e-waste”. Even if the materials are destroyed, they do not decompose; they cause damage to the environment. According to Khulna City Corporation (KCC), about 1,000 tons of waste is produced in the city every day. Of this, KCC waste management department workers collect 800 tons and dump those at Rajbandh and Shalua dumping grounds. The remaining 200 tons of waste make their way into drains or canals. Read More: E-waste management should be safe and environmentally friendly: Nasrul Hamid KCC Chief Waste Management Officer Engr Md Abdul Aziz said the city produces close to one ton of e-waste every day. Like household waste, these too go into the dumping grounds. A large number of electrical equipment, including TV and computer parts, coming from the drain gather at the Rupsha Switch Gate area. Those are also collected and dumped at Rajbandh. Md Kabir has been involved in the scrap material business for about 15 years. He said earlier there were more TVs, electricity meters, batteries, water motors. In the last seven-eight years, the sale of different types of mobile phones and small motors has increased. “The products are removed, cleaned, and put up for sale. No one ever talked about using protective gear,” he said. Dulal buys products from houses in different areas of the city and sells them in Sheikhpara. He said many buy broken items and repair them. The rest is sold as scrap. Read More: E-Waste Crisis: Effects of Electronic Waste on Environment and Human Health “I burn wire and take out the copper, and throw out the rest. I’ve developed rashes in my hands while doing this work,” he said. Professor Dr Abdullah Harun Chowdhury, head of the Department of Environmental Sciences of Khulna University, said e-waste contains various types of toxic compounds including lead, cadmium, mercury. These are harmful to the environment and animals. In addition, mercury enters the environment and human body through various processes. It can damage the brain, reduce hearing and immunity. Lead from e-waste causes serious damage to the nervous system of newborns, he added. KCC Chief Waste Management Officer Md Abdul Aziz said a master plan on waste management at the city corporation is underway. Read More: Soaring e-waste affecting health of millions of children: WHO Besides, a modern waste treatment plant has been constructed in Shalua. All types of waste will be segregated and distributed there. Once the project is completed, e-waste will come under the purview of the project, he said.

Electronic waste has been marked as a global concern after its harmful impacts on nature and human health, has been recognized worldwide. It is also known as e-waste. The impacts of e-waste upon the environment and the long-term effect of this threat is often underestimated. Nonetheless, numerous e-waste recycling facilities have been established in recent years in an attempt to safeguard both people and the environment. But still the level of pollution is disastrous for both the environment and human health. Read this article to know about e-waste, its effects and ways to mitigate the crisis. What is Electronic Waste? E-waste is a colloquial term for electronic devices that have lost their utility. The term "e-waste" refers to consumer and commercial electronic instruments that are nearing or have reached the end of their usefulness. There is no specific definition of the term. For example, what specific kinds of electronic appliances should be included in the category have not been determined. Read How to Reduce Air Pollution in Bangladesh? How Does Electronic Waste Pollute the Environment? Improper e-waste disposal in landfills or other non-dumping locations poses significant risks to present public health and has the potential to damage ecosystems for future generations. Toxic chemicals are produced when electronics are illegally disposed of and wind up in landfills, affecting the earth's soil, air, water, and, eventually, human health. Here are some significant ways how electronic waste is taking a toll on our home planet and our health. Impact on Air When e-waste is disposed of by disassembling, damaging, or melting the components, dust particles or chemicals, such as dioxins, get released into the environment, causing air pollution and harming respiratory health.The air contamination produced by e-waste has a greater effect on certain animal species than others, which may threaten these species as well as the biodiversity of particularly chronically contaminated areas. Air pollution degrades soil and water quality and plant species over time, causing permanent harm to ecosystems. Read Impact of climate change on crop production in Bangladesh Impact on Soil When e-waste is improperly disposed of in normal landfills or illegally buried, both heavy metals and flame retardants may seep straight into the soil. These chemicals can contaminate groundwater and crops that are grown nearby. When heavy metals pollute the soil, crops become susceptible to absorbing these poisons, which may cause a variety of diseases and prevent farms from growing optimal yields.Massive particles get discharged after burning, shredding, or disassembling e-waste. When these particles are buried or re-depositing to the ground rapidly, the soil gets polluted. The quantity of polluted soil is determined by a variety of variables such as temperature, pH levels, and soil composition. Read How to stop global warming? How to combat climate change in Bangladesh? Impact on Water E-waste from heavy metals, such as mercury, lead, lithium, and barium, seep through the earth and enter groundwater. When these metals enter groundwater, they ultimately end up in ponds, rivers, streams, and lakes. Huge toxification is produced in the water. As a result, the water becomes hazardous for animals, insects, and human communities even if they are kilometres away from recycling sites. Day by day, it is becoming more difficult to get safe drinking water.Acidification from metal has the potential to kill both marines and freshwater species, which in the long term can disrupt biodiversity, and damage ecosystems. Acidification also harms ecosystems to the point where recovery gets difficult. Read Climate Change: How Bangladesh is being affected by Global Warming?