WEEE

The vast amount of Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE) is rapidly growing worldwide due to growth in the electronics sector and use of technology in general.

The vast amount of Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE) is rapidly growing worldwide due to growth in the electronics sector and use of technology in general. According to Namias (2013) Europeans produce approximately 20 kilograms of e-waste/person/year, while U.S. residents produce about 7 kilograms of e-waste/person/year. This discrepancy may be attributed to the varying definitions of e-waste; in the U.S. electronic waste generally consists of information technology and telecommunications equipment, monitors and televisions, whereas in Europe it also includes large household appliances, cooling and freezing appliances, and medical devices.

WEEE is often highly complex, integrated and toxic consisting precious and special metals, including gold, silver, palladium and platinum, as well as potentially toxic substances like lead, mercury, cadmium and beryllium.