Discarded electrical and electronic equipment, commonly known as e-waste, is an increasingly severe global problem, as it can pollute the air and contaminate soil and water sources. Items thrown away could range from small devices such as laptops, mobile phones and batteries to large household appliances, including air-conditioning units and refrigeration systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the 1990s, many electrical and electronic products were built to last an average of up to 15 years. That has changed markedly. Today, for instance, a mobile phone is often replaced or abandoned after about five years, sometimes sooner. With the rapid expansion of digitalisation and artificial intelligence, shorter product life cycles are likely to become even more common.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to a recent United Nations report, global e-waste generation is expected to reach 74 million metric tonnes annually by 2030. In fast developing Southeast Asia, an estimated 25 million metric tonnes of e-waste are produced each year, excluding e-waste illegally imported into the region. Of this total, only around 20% can be properly treated and disposed of due to limited facilities and technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More alarming is the behaviour of irresponsible operators who, after profiting from valuable components, dump the remaining e-waste on vacant land without any proper treatment. One study found that soil samples taken near poorly managed illegal e-waste sites contained lead concentrations up to 19 times higher than established safety limits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Poorly controlled disposal and recycling of e-waste can have severe environmental consequences. When electronic devices are not recycled responsibly, hazardous substances such as lead, mercury and cadmium can leach into soil, water and air. These toxic materials can harm ecosystems and pose serious risks to human health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One practical step is to introduce an Extended Producer Responsibility programme, which would require manufacturers to manage the collection, treatment and safe disposal of their products at the end of their life cycle. Beyond regulation, governments can encourage better design and recovery through tax deductions, subsidies and other incentives for companies that run take-back schemes or produce devices that last longer and are easier to repair and recycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Adopting a circular economy would not only reduce the e-waste burden, but also create new business opportunities and support regional growth. This approach would build on Malaysia\u2019s Integrated E-Waste Management System (IEWMS), widely seen as a successful framework in which government agencies and the private sector have worked together to streamline and standardise e-waste recycling. Malaysia has also designated the last Saturday of every month as a national e-waste collection day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Education is just as crucial. Government agencies, NGOs and the private sector can work together to run sustained public awareness campaigns and provide clear guidance on safe, lawful e-waste disposal. Initiatives such as an \u201cE-Waste Race\u201d can motivate schools to compete in collecting e-waste for proper treatment, while building lasting environmental awareness and responsible habits among students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Malaysia and across the region, efforts to curb e-waste can also be strengthened by drawing on Islamic ethics. The teaching to avoid excess and waste, often described as Israf,<\/em> and the idea of humans as stewards of the earth, or Khalifah<\/em>, frame responsible consumption, repair, reuse and proper disposal as a public trust, or Amanah<\/em>. Seen through the objectives of Islamic law, commonly referred to as Maqasid Al-Shariah<\/em>, preventing toxic pollution supports the protection of life and health while safeguarding the environment for future generations. This perspective can be incorporated into public awareness campaigns, school activities and mosque-based outreach, reinforcing \u201ctake back\u201d schemes and circular economy initiatives by reminding households and businesses that environmental care is not only a legal obligation, but also a moral responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ultimately, the e-waste crisis is not merely a disposal issue. It reflects a web of interconnected problems, from illegal imports to gaps in regulation, enforcement and recycling capacity. Confronting it will require coordinated action by governments, industry and the public alike. It also highlights the need for a holistic approach that addresses today\u2019s pressures while strengthening prevention and planning for the next surge of e-waste, including discarded vaping devices, end-of-life electric vehicle batteries and damaged solar panels.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Discarded electrical and electronic equipment, commonly known as e-waste, is an increasingly severe global problem, as it can pollute the air and contaminate soil and water sources. Items thrown away could range from small devices such as laptops, mobile phones and batteries to large household appliances, including air-conditioning units and refrigeration systems.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":90,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_analytify_skip_tracking":false,"_wpzoom_pinterest_image_url":"","_wpzoom_pinterest_hidden_image":"0","_wpzoom_pinterest_description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[225],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-81829","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","category-225","description-off"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ikim.gov.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81829","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ikim.gov.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ikim.gov.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ikim.gov.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/90"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ikim.gov.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=81829"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.ikim.gov.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81829\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":81830,"href":"https:\/\/www.ikim.gov.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81829\/revisions\/81830"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ikim.gov.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=81829"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ikim.gov.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=81829"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ikim.gov.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=81829"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}