Costa Rica News – Costa Rica generated 48 kilotonnes of e-waste last year, an equivalent of 9.7 kilograms of this type of waste per person, including screens, lamps and telecommunications equipment.
This data from the Global Report on Electronic Waste 2017 was published by the International Telecommunication Union with the United Nations University and the International Solid Waste Association.
The world generated 44.7 million metric tons of such waste. That’s the equivalent to 4,500 Eiffel towers. This electronic waste is a risk for the environment and the health of the people when improperly disposed in landfills, backyards or by burning it. An old TV can contain about 3 kilos of petrified lead, a substance that negatively affects the nervous system and kidneys and accumulates in the blood.
Interestingly, if these items were recycled responsibly they would have an estimated value of $55 billion, more than the gross domestic product of most countries. The study anticipates that this type of waste production will increase by 17% by 2021.
Componentes El Orbe periodically carries out campaigns to collect e-waste. Another option is to contact the item’s manufacturer to see if they accept the used items back for proper disposal. If not, you can contact the Ministry of Health for a location to drop it off at.
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