The United Nations said the amount of waste from electronics is rising to dangerous levels, raising concerns over the ability of countries to cope with the less glamorous side of the information age.
In Southeast Asia’s most populous country, Indonesia, work is being done to ensure the problem of electronics waste does not get out of hand.
“There are harmful materials inside electronic equipment that are poisonous if exposed to the air and water around us,” warned Indra Ananda, an e-waste specialist from Indonesia.
One company that has already begun to introduce safe recycling is Mukti Mandiri Lestari. The facility recycles around 1,000 tons of equipment every month, turning them into pure blocks of aluminum, tin, copper and many more.
“We believe in zero waste,” said Wawan Budiawan, president of the Mukti Mandiri Lestari. “All of the electrical and electronic equipment here are categorized based on materials and distributed to various industries so they can use it for their own purposes. Nothing goes to waste.”
“We need people to be more aware to keep our Earth clean. It is important to start caring from now on for the sake of our future generation.” Budiawan added.
According to CGTN's Silkina Ahluwalia, the Indonesian government does not have a concrete plan to deal with e-waste in the country. This waste, in the form of discarded mobile phones, televisions, and other gadgets and appliances, usually ends up in landfills, where they are neglected or burned.
