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Urgency of Proper E-Waste Management Plan in Nepal: An Overview
Summary
This review examines the growing e-waste problem in Nepal, noting that inadequate disposal of electrical and electronic devices contaminates soil, water, and air with heavy metals and toxic chemicals. While focused on e-waste rather than microplastics, electronic devices contain plastic components that fragment into microplastics when improperly disposed of.
Electrical and electronic gadgets (or E-gadgets) have become indispensable components of our daily life these days. As today’s electrical and electronic devices become tomorrow’s waste, the potential hazards of these materials in an open environment are significant, as they can contaminate soil, drinking water, air and thus directly affecting human health and surrounding biota. With time, the random disposal of these wastes may lead to a disastrous situation. Although Nepal is one of the least developed countries, also in terms of electrical and electronic equipment, we are importing the high-tech E-gadgets from the developed nations and using them without a proper vision for their after-use management and their impacts on socio-economic values as well as health and environment. It has become an urgent need of the hour to address E-waste challenges taking into consideration the best suited international policies and practices.
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