E-waste is a term given for electronic products whose lifespans have ended. It also includes those products which are still functional but are no longer used due to advancement in technology. The electronic products could be computers, televisions, VCRs, stereos, copiers and fax machines. There is debate going on whether products like microwave can be part of this e-waste. Many of these products can be refurbished or recycled, yet these products form a part of the biggest waste in the present century. This e-waste when dumped into the developing countries widens the digital divide. More developed nations are moving towards advanced technologies, and countries like Nigeria are becoming their dump yards. According to a report by the Seattle-based Basal Action Network (BAN), the US has been exporting its waste to developing countries, in order to dodge the expense of recycling. Nigeria and other developing nations carry the burden of the world's toxic waste on their shoulders in the name of technology growth.
Internet revolution has changed the way we look at the world today. The last decade has witnessed a huge growth rate and major advancements in computer technology. Many companies are coming up with their sophisticated softwares in areas of enterprise resource management, supply chain management, customer relationship management and many more. Virtual driving machines, instant communication, online banking, paperless money transactions, and biomedical research applications have been recent advancements in information technology. The number of computer users is growing day by day, and at the same time, the number of old electronic products which are obsolete is also growing. A decade ago, one would buy a television for lifetime, but today, within five years, a new model can be bought by a middle-class family. All of us are buying new models that are sophisticated and use improved technology, but have we ever thought what happens to those old models? How are they disposed and how can they affect our lives?
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