A Study on E-Waste Management Practices In Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

E-waste is now a significant issue affecting people in many different places. This country is highly affected as it isn’t well managed, has unenforced laws and uses a lot of unofficial recycling. Information from ten repair shops and five vandal shops was studied to investigate how e-waste is managed in Bangladesh. The study confirmed that most e-waste is handled in an unofficial way, endangering people and the environmentbecause of the use of lead, mercury and cadmium. A sustainable approach to managing e-waste in Bangladesh can protect the environment and benefit both the economy and people by mixing good practices found in Bangladesh with those from other countries. In comparison, an amount of 710 kg of waste is expected each month, consisting mainly of mobile phones (12%), laptops (13%), televisions (17%), refrigerators (15%), batteries (17%) and various electrical parts (26%). The problems are increased when recycling and disposal procedures are not followed properly. Of these findings, 73% chose to sell their e-waste to third parties that were not regulated and 27% simply threw it away in locations not closely monitored. Very few workers, only 27% and 13%, understand recycling and proper disposal methods, respectively.