CJMY
Electronic waste, or e-waste, has become a major environmental and health issue globally, with the increasing dependence on technology leading to the disposal of vast amounts of electronic devices.
In Malaysia, e-waste has emerged as a significant challenge, ranking the country among Southeast Asia’s top e-waste generators. The improper disposal of e-waste can have severe consequences for human health and the environment, as it contains harmful substances such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and brominated flame retardants.
To promote the proper disposal of electronic waste, Bukit Gasing assemblyman Rajiv Rishyakaran has collaborated with Blue Bee Technologies to set up three e-waste collection bins in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.
Blue Bee Technologies has placed the collection bins outside the PJ Palms Sports Centre, Lorong Sultan in PJ New Town, outside Public Bank at Jalan Pasar 1/21, PJ Old Town, and the Rukun Tetangga Centre in Petaling Jaya.
E-waste contains many hazardous elements, including mercury and lead, which can pollute the environment and threaten human health. Rajiv said that he and Blue Bee Technologies had put much thought into selecting the locations of the collection bins to make it easier for people to dispose of their electronic waste properly. By making it more convenient for people to dispose of their electronic waste, Rajiv hopes that less will end up in landfills.
The initiative is timely as Malaysia generated over 550,000 metric tonnes of e-waste in 2020, which will continue to rise with the increasing use of electronic devices. Proper disposal of e-waste is essential to mitigate its environmental and health risks, and initiatives like these collection bins are an essential step towards achieving this goal.
PJ Palms Sports Centre general manager, Yeap Eu Juan, praised the initiative, stating a pressing need to prevent electronic items from entering the solid waste stream. E-waste is the fastest-growing trash stream, and facilities like these collection bins are needed to address this environmental issue.
Moreover, electronic devices containing valuable resources such as gold, silver, copper, and platinum can be reused if properly recycled. By discarding electronic devices instead of recycling them, valuable resources are lost and compounding the environmental damage by mining for new resources.
The growing concern over the dangers of e-waste has prompted many countries to adopt legislation and regulations to promote the proper disposal of electronic devices. In Malaysia, the government has introduced the Environmental Quality (Scheduled Wastes) Regulations 2005, which outlines the proper disposal of e-waste.
However, despite these regulations, the improper disposal of e-waste remains a significant problem in the country. Initiatives like the e-waste collection bins set up by Rajiv Rishyakaran in Malaysia are crucial to address the growing problem of electronic waste and encouraging people to dispose of their electronic devices responsibly.
In conclusion, the growing dependence on technology has led to the disposal of vast amounts of electronic devices, posing significant environmental and health risks globally. Malaysia is among the top e-waste generators in Southeast Asia, making the proper disposal of e-waste a crucial challenge for the country.
Initiatives like the e-waste collection bins set up by Rajiv Rishyakaran in collaboration with Blue Bee Technologies are crucial to promote responsible disposal practices and mitigating the environmental and health risks associated with e-waste.
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