Current Status of Electronic Waste in Information Communication Technology (ICT) and its Environmental Management

Abstract

The production of electronic devices in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector has seen a massive increase in the past few decades due to changes in the lifestyle of individuals across the globe. The Covid-19 pandemic has been like a catalyst in this process, where the demand has reached its peak due to work-from-home activities. A huge amount of electronic waste generated is by the ICT sector which is not efficiently managed and ultimately risks human health and the environment. The challenges arise in the pathway of efficient and sustainable recycling of electronic waste due to improper defined rules and regulations, unskilled personnel handling electronic waste, high cost of recycling, poor coordination between manufacturers, customers, and government bodies, and the prevailing of informal sector. The present review investigates the current scenario of electronic waste around the globe, strategies developed to manage the electronic waste and methods to be adopted for achieving sustainable goals in managing waste from the ICT sector. An attempt is also made to cover the data related to the approaches made by manufacturers to overcome the issue of electronic waste management.