Challenges of E-Waste Dismantling in China

Abstract

Electronic and electrical products have deeply permeated all aspects of life, bringing a lot of convenience to individuals. However, the generation of e-waste after their end-of-life has resulted in serious risks both to the ecological environment and human health due to a lack of scientific and effective recycling and treatments. As two major types of components in e-waste, heavy metals and plastics can not only directly enter the human body via inhalation, ingestion, and skin absorption, but also accumulate in the human body indirectly through the food chain. E-waste is full of resources such as valuable metals like gold, silver, and copper that are often discarded incorrectly. Environmental and health risks derived from unregulated e-waste dismantling activities may be finally addressed through the application of advanced e-waste recycling technology, policy support of governments, legislation on recycling laws and regulations, and the improvement of public environmental protection awareness. This review gives a brief overview of the history, current situation, and future development of e-waste in China, which may provide novel thinking and approaches to e-waste management in the world.