Globally
Globally, over 44.4 million tons of e-waste are generated annually, a quantity that equates to over US dollars 65 billion worth of essential raw materials. The quantity is projected to rise over seventeen percent by the year 2021 (Whigham, 2020). The aspect is fueled by the changing designs and improved purchasing power of globally. Such forecasted increase in the generation of e-waste account to over 8 percent as significant countries around the globe continue to grapple with an appropriate way to dispose such products without the risk of the health hazards attributed to such practices around the world with 52.2 million tons of e-waste generated as per the projection (Cleanaway, 2020). According to the estimations carried by the United Nations University, only 20 percent of the global e-waste is effectively recycled after being collected. Such aspect means that over 80 percent of the e-waste generated remain unaccounted for as they are either disposed on landfills or carelessly dumped in water or carelessly dumped or discarded (Whigham, 2020). In Australia, over 200,000 metric tons of e-waste are disposed annually with over 1.5 million used television sets are discarded annually and other e-waste materials (Whigham, 2020). Such numbers are bound to increase in the coming years.
How Australia has solved the Waste Problem Compared to other Countries
Initially, most of the e-waste from Australia were exported to China, a country that had mechanisms to recycle the e-waste or extract essential components such as copper, gold, and lead among other elements or even refurbish and recycle the e-waste and resell to the global markets (Cleanaway, 2020). In this regard, China was responsible for receiving of 70 percent of the worldwide e-waste as the city of Guiyu which was the hub of e-waste as the country received over 4000 tons of e-waste per hour (Cleanaway, 2020). However, such an act called for a homegrown solution to the problems associated with e-waste disposal in Australia. Therefore, in what seems distinctively different from other countries, Australia has put in place two interventions that are aimed at reigning on the poor disposal of e-waste. First, the Australian has banned the dumping of e-waste on landfills by making such an act of illegality that is punishable as dictated by the laws in Australia (PF Metals, 2020). Since most of the e-waste contain harmful and carcinogenic elements such as lead and mercury, the Australian government ban is meant to compel individuals to ensure that they correctly dispose of their unused resources effectively. The ban is also meant to ensure that the Australian government is able to control limit the health hazards attributed to such materials in e-waste as well as to ensure that no harmful elements are added to the soil (PF Metals, 2020). On the other hand, the Australian government, in conjunction with the University of New South Wales, have unveiled a machine known as e-waste micro-factory. The device enables users to effectively transform discarded computers and smartphones into viable materials that can be effectively used in 3D printing (Whigham, 2020). The innovators of the tool perceive it as an essential tool that offers a cost-effective remedy to the disposal menace and effectively offer the much-needed solution of the environmental challenges attributed to the e-wastes.
Significant Ideas that the Australian government put in place for e-waste circular economy
First, the Australian government have illegalized the indiscriminate disposal of e-waste on landfills in a bid to ensure that people are compelled to take their used electronics to appropriate dealers. Such an instance would ensure that a supply chain in the circular economy is not disrupted. On the other hand, the government of Australia in 2018 allocated funds tuning to over $15 million to be spent towards the renovation and upgrade of over 130 e-waste collection areas around Victoria and make it accessible for individuals in Victoria to access e-waste recycling centers (Cleanaway, 2020). The initiative is aimed at ensuring that there is enhanced access to such facilities as well as the improved ability of Australia to deal with its e-waste effectively while maintaining the circular economy as far as e-waste management is concerned.
References
Whigham, Nick. 2020. “Get Ready For New Ban On Bin Contents”. Newscomau. https://www.news.com.au/technology/gadgets/victoria-prepares-for-new-ewaste-measures-to-tackle-one-of-the-greatest-environmental-challenges-of-our-age/news-story/269f9f605fab235311d2ba3d83c518dd
Cleanaway. 2020. “E-Waste: An Inconvenient Consequence Of The Digital Age | Cleanaway. https://www.cleanaway.com.au/sustainable-future/e-waste-problem/
PF Metals. 2020. “Facts About E-Waste In Australia”. PF Metals Resource Recovery. https://pfmetals.com.au/10-facts-about-e-waste-in-australia/