PEOPLE from various countries generate about 3.5 million tonnes of waste daily. However, they manage to dispose of or reuse approximately 45 per cent to 55 per cent of this waste systematically. This means that the remaining waste is often left unmanaged or disposed of unsystematically.
Before addressing the problem of indiscriminate waste disposal, countries worldwide are also facing the growing challenge of electronic waste (e-waste). E-waste primarily results from the development processes in countries around the world, especially developing nations. Chemical residues from e-waste can harm living organisms as well as the natural environment. If e-waste is not properly managed and destroyed, these chemicals can seep into the soil, causing pollution. Even when e-waste is incinerated, the smoke and gases released can lead to respiratory problems in living beings and pose serious health risks to humans.
According to surveys, the world disposed of approximately 62 million tonnes of e-waste in 2023. However, the amount of e-waste generated is increasing every year. Therefore, the survey predicts that by 2030, people worldwide may discard more than 74 million tonnes of e-waste. Since some developed and developing countries cannot manage and dispose of their e-waste properly, they often export it to less developed or poorer countries.
Currently, some developed countries export their e-waste to Southeast Asian, South Asian, and African countries. Notably, Myanmar has imported a large number of second-hand electronic products from other countries over the past decades. As a result, these used electronic products are widely in use in Myanmar. However, these e-waste items can pose serious risks to the nation’s public health over time.
Everyone should understand that environmental conservation involves not only tree planting and the protection of wildlife and plant species but also the responsible management of everyday waste, e-waste, and chemical waste. People worldwide, including government authorities, share the responsibility to ensure the sustainability of the natural environment by preventing the indiscriminate disposal of all types of waste, thereby protecting both the environment and human life.
At the same time, everyone needs to actively participate and raise public awareness in mitigating air, water, and soil pollution; regulating the disposal of industrial, electronic, and chemical waste; and conserving wildlife and the natural environment. Furthermore, relevant authorities of global countries should educate the public about the advantages and disadvantages of e-waste disposal, promote techniques for reusing and recycling e-waste, and enforce laws and regulations to control waste disposal activities.
