Electronic Waste and its Negative Impact on Human Health and the Environment

This paper reviews electronic waste and its disposal methods. It also explores hazardous effects that e-waste have on human health, animals and the environment; it contains, for example, toxic metals. The ever-increasing growth of e-waste is one of the biggest threats of the 21st century; it is therefore a priority worldwide. There is no single best method to eradicate e-waste and related problems. Lack of suitable education, resulting in low levels of awareness, drives improper management of e-waste. This study therefore concludes that awareness and suitable education is the most important aspect that influences appropriate and proper management of e-waste, i.e. good (“green”) information technology practices.