Assessment of e-Waste Disposal in Pakistan & Development of a Strategy for its Effectiveness

Abstract

E-waste contains obsolete and discarded e-goods. Pakistan being technology-follower (refurbishers) import second-hand eproducts from developed countries for recycling purposes. Problem arises when these become useless for even developing nation, then its fate is a question mark. Discarded e-items are sold to junkmen (collectors) at cheap rate per kg, who (dismantlers) get useful chips and accessories, avoiding reverse-logistics concept by the manufacturers. Rest of waste (extractors) is burnt (generate dioxins and hydrocarbons etc), to extract useful metals like Cu and Al, then seeping waste liquid (contains contaminants like Cr and Ni) into domestic drains directly going to rivers and Arabian Sea, thus polluting the environment (air, soil and water).