TelecomTV Green Planet Episode 6: E-Waste: Reduce, Re-Use, Recycle

Globally 20 to 50 million tonnes of electronic waste is produced every year. E-waste make up five percent of all waste worldwide, this is nearly the same amount as all plastic packaging, but contains materials that are far more hazardous.

Nardono Nimpuno, ChemSec Senior Policy Advisor, explains the problem with hazardous substances in electronic equipment: "In the different applications of mobile phones you need for example Brominated flame retardants, to prevent the mobile from bursting into flames, and Phthalates, softeners. These are chemicals that have endocrine disruptions properties, they change the hormone system of people, they are reprotoxic and they are very persistent."

In the Episode mobile phone makers Sony Ericsson and Nokia talks of their Take Back projects of recycling old mobile phones. A survey carried out by Nokia in 13 countries showed that only three percent recycle their mobile phones today.

The programme also highlights the Re-Use of computers in the Global South as well as Universal phone chargers.

Watch the Green Planet Episode 6