A recent study carried out by the United Nations (UN) organization revealed that in 2019 thirteen Latin American countries generated around 1.3 megatons of electronic waste, estimating that only 3% of it is properly managed (percentage that is well below the world average of 17.4%), adding, that almost one-third of the total electronic waste generated is plastic, which could be a serious potential health and environmental problem.
The report thus concludes, that in 2019 alone, the countries that were analyzed (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela) generated 380,000 tons of plastic from electronic waste. Of this amount, 31,000 tons contained bromine flame retardants (BRFs), a highly toxic product that is suspected of causing neurobehavioral and endocrine disorders.
This also includes 2,200 kilograms of mercury, 600 kilograms of cadmium, 4.4 million kilograms of lead, 4 million kilograms of brominated flame retardants (BRFs) and 5.6 megatons of greenhouse gases.
However but nevertheless important the document details, that in addition to the toxic waste this garbage generates, it also contains approximately 7,000 kg. of gold, 310 kg. of rare earth metals, 519 million kg. of iron, 54 million kg. of copper and 91 million kg. of aluminum, which end up in landfills and garbage dumps.
Taking into consideration these figures, this study intends to be a benchmark for the growing effort of "local monitoring" that countries must carry out on electronic waste issues to "create improved strategy efficiency " in the future.
In order to contribute to the correct management of electronic waste, at Hidronor we consolidate different electrical and electronic devices in disuse at a national level, such as cell phones or computer motherboards that are stored and recovered so that the companies carry out a dismantling process afterwards, where precious metals and aluminum are extracted from metal casings. Likewise, precious metals such as gold, platinum, nickel and tin, among others, are sent to Europe to be processed in high-temperature furnaces, in compliance with industry standards.
Let's manage electronic waste correctly!
Source: Latimes
