Burning old TVs to survive: The toxic trade in electrical waste

In Accra, the capital city of Ghana, there is a significant issue with electronic waste, commonly referred to as e-waste. This term describes discarded electronic devices such as televisions, computers, and smartphones. Many of these items are shipped from wealthier nations to poorer countries, where they often end up in places like the Agbogbloshie dump. At this site, workers engage in the dangerous practice of burning cables and plastic from these discarded electronics to extract valuable metals like copper and gold. However, this process releases thick, toxic smoke that poses serious health risks. Abdulla Yakubu, a young worker at the dump, expressed his concerns, stating, 'I don’t feel well. The air is very polluted, and I have to work here every day, so it definitely affects our health. ' The smoke makes it increasingly difficult for him to breathe and see clearly. Many individuals, including mothers like Abiba Alhassan, work in close proximity to the burning site. Abiba spends her days sorting through used plastic bottles, and she too suffers from the effects of the toxic smoke. She shared her experience, saying, 'Sometimes, it’s very difficult to breathe; my chest becomes heavy, and I feel very unwell. ' This highlights the hazardous conditions that these workers face daily. The problem of e-waste is growing at an alarming rate worldwide. According to a report from the United Nations, approximately 62 million tonnes of e-waste were generated in 2022, marking an 82% increase since 2010. This surge can be attributed to the rising demand for electronic devices, including smartphones and computers. For instance, the number of smartphones shipped annually has more than doubled since 2010, reaching 1. 2 billion units in 2023. As a result, the volume of discarded electronics continues to rise, with many of these items ending up in countries like Ghana. When e-waste is burned, it releases harmful fumes, particularly from the plastic components. The United Nations reports that only about 15% of the world's e-waste is recycled properly, leading many companies to seek ways to dispose of their e-waste in poorer nations, where it is often incinerated or dumped. This poses a significant challenge, as e-waste contains toxic chemicals and metals that can adversely affect both human health and the environment. Even in developed countries, there is a lack of adequate infrastructure for managing e-waste responsibly. UN investigators have observed a troubling increase in the trafficking of e-waste from developed nations to poorer ones. E-waste has now become the most frequently seized type of waste by customs authorities globally. For example, officials at the port of Naples in Italy demonstrated how traffickers misdeclare and conceal e-waste, which constitutes around 30% of their seizures. They showcased a container that was supposed to carry a car, but upon inspection, it was filled with broken vehicle parts and e-waste, with oil leaking from some items. Luigi Garruto, an investigator with the European Anti-Fraud Office, remarked, 'You don’t pack your personal goods like this; much of it is meant for dumping. ' In the UK, authorities are also witnessing a rise in trafficked e-waste. Ben Ryder, a spokesperson for the UK Environment Agency, noted that waste items are often incorrectly declared as reusable, but in reality, they are dismantled for precious metals and then illegally burned upon arrival in countries like Ghana. Traffickers have developed sophisticated methods to conceal e-waste, such as grinding it down and mixing it with other plastics to export it under the guise of legitimate waste. A previous report from the World Customs Organization indicated a staggering 700% increase in the trafficking of end-of-life motor vehicles, which are a significant source of e-waste. However, experts caution that these reported cases represent only a fraction of the actual problem. While there has not been a comprehensive global study tracking all e-waste trafficked from developed nations, the UN e-waste report indicates that Southeast Asian countries remain major destinations for this waste. However, as some of these nations tighten regulations against waste trafficking, more e-waste is being diverted to African countries. For instance, Malaysian authorities seized 106 containers of hazardous e-waste between May and June 2024, according to Masood Karimipour, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime's regional representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific. The toxic chemicals found in e-waste and its plastic components pose serious risks to both human health and the environment. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that many individuals involved in informal e-waste recycling, including women and children, are exposed to these hazardous substances without proper protective equipment or infrastructure. This exposure can lead to severe health issues, particularly for children. The International Labour Organization and WHO estimate that millions of women and child laborers working in the informal recycling sector may be affected. They also warn that exposure during fetal development and childhood can result in neurodevelopmental and neurobehavioral disorders. Starting in January 2025, a new global waste treaty known as the Basel Convention will require exporters to declare all e-waste and obtain permission from recipient countries. Investigators are hopeful that this will help close some of the loopholes that traffickers have exploited to ship e-waste across borders. However, some countries, including the United States, a major exporter of e-waste, have not ratified the Basel Convention, which campaigners argue contributes to the ongoing issue of e-waste trafficking. Back at the Agbogbloshie dump, Abiba reveals that she spends nearly half of her earnings on medicine to address health problems resulting from her work. She states, 'But I am still here because this is my means of survival and that of my family. ' This underscores the dire circumstances faced by individuals in these situations and emphasizes the urgent need for better solutions to address the growing e-waste crisis.