e-WASTE: Everything an ICT Scientist and Developer Should Know

Every dazzling announcement of a new smart phone or trendy digital device is the prelude to more tons of electronic waste (e-waste) being produced. This e-waste, or electronic scrap, is often improperly added to common garbage, rather than being separated into suitable containers that facilitate the recovery of toxic materials and valuable metals. We are beginning to become aware of the problems that e-waste can generate to our health and the environment. However, most of us are still not motivated enough to take an active part in reversing the situation. The aim of this article is to contribute to increase this motivation by pointing out the significant problem that e-waste represents and its social and environmental implications. We have chosen this forum in which multidisciplinary researchers in ICT from all countries access on regularly to explain the serious problems we are exposed to when we do not make a responsible and correct use of technology. In this paper, we also survey the composition of contemporary electronic devices and the possibilities and difficulties of recycling the elements they contain. As researchers, our contributions in science enable us to find solutions to current problems and to design more and more powerful intelligent devices. But responsible researchers must be aware of the negative effects that this industry causes us and, consequently, assume their commitment with more sustainable designs and developments. Therefore, the knowledge of e-waste issues is crucial also in the scientific world. Researchers should consider this problem and contribute to minimize it or find new solutions to manage it. These must be the additional challenges in our projects.