Mexico Lags on Recycling, Disposal and Treatment Strategies of Electronic Waste Alberto Valderrabano - The News
go to original April 26, 2015

Due to technological advancements, many older pieces of technology are becoming obsolete. This results in massive dumps for electronic waste, which will not disappear anytime soon. These dumps are fueled by companies introducing new iterations of their smart phones, tablets or computers every few months. (lolwot.com)

The excessive consumption of electronic equipment in Mexico grew at the end of the last century thanks to great technological breakthroughs in computers, cell phones, TVs and videocameras, among other items. However, this consumerism has generated a large amount of electronic waste which is not recycled, but discarded into open waste dumps, causing serious environmental and health problems.

According to the Center for Ecosystem Research at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), it is estimated that Mexico produces about 300,000 tons of electronic waste annually — enough to fill the Azteca Stadium every two years.

On average, each Mexican citizen produces three to five kilos of this type of waste. After Brazil, Mexico is the second largest producer of electronic garbage in Latin America.

The consumption of appliances has grown excessively, while the lifespan of many appliances — especially cellphones and computers — is short. The problem of waste is worsened by the fact there are no incentives to encourage people to recycle these devices.

In 2011, during a meeting of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CCA), of which Mexico is a member, it was concluded that legislation to support and encourage recycling in Mexico was lacking, whereas in the United States and Canada there are effective government incentives to recycle electronic waste.

Waste treatment is not only important, but also urgent due to the serious problems it causes for society and the ecosystem.

Read the rest at The News

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