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History and Major Types of Pollutants in Electronic Waste Recycling

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Part of the book series: Soil Biology ((SOILBIOL,volume 57))

Abstract

Electronic waste is a global problem that requires a global solution and attention. It could be one of the possible key ways to reduce electronic waste generation. Although recycling reduces greenhouse gases emissions, also water and soil pollution associated with making new products from raw materials, however, safe and sound recycling is a big environmental issue. One more challenging aspect of reducing illegal export of electronic products to underdeveloped and less developed countries in order to ensure safe recycling is the imposing of strict laws and policies against it. Since this import-export business occurs without taking into account any international treaties, laws, etc. against hazardous materials transport, it worsens environmental as well as health issues. Educating people about how to recycle, reuse, and dispose electronics at all levels, combination of new technological solutions and increased public awareness regarding environmental effects of electronic waste will teach them how to behave more responsibly toward recycling.

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Correspondence to Sunbal Siddique .

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Siddique, S., Siddique, A. (2019). History and Major Types of Pollutants in Electronic Waste Recycling. In: Hashmi, M., Varma, A. (eds) Electronic Waste Pollution. Soil Biology, vol 57. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-26615-8_1

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