Are you aware that Over 40,000,000 tons of toxic waste from discarded electronics (e-waste) is created each year with annual growth rate of 4-5 percent?
And while there is a lack of an efficient, safe and sustainable infrastructure for its disposal in the regions of the world, Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana and Mauritania are destination countries for the majority of the exported e-waste stream.
In fact, the large scrap yard in Agbogbloshie, near the center of Accra, Ghana is well mentioned example of these dumpsites.
One of the most dangerous aspects of e-waste is due to the fact that it contains chemicals known as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), one of the world’s most toxic chemicals.
New studies by IPEN and the Basel Action Network (BAN) have revealed how weak controls on the export of waste electronic equipment from developed countries lead to dangerous levels of human exposure and food chain contamination in African countries.
So, today’s package is on e-Waste and the environment.