ewaste

The United Nations on Tuesday issued a report on the urgent need for developing countries to prepare for the proper disposal of electronic waste. Developing countries like China and India, as well as Africa and parts of Latin America are about to see an enormous spike in the sales of electronic gadgets in the next ten years. But many developing countries lack the facilities to deal with electronic waste, meaning there is a potential of "hazardous e-waste mountains with serious consequences for the environment and public health," according to the UN.

Draft legislation would include grant money for universities to conduct research on improving sorting and "de-manufacturing" technologies, on new uses for e-waste materials, new electronics designs that would make recycling easier and greener alternatives to hazardous materials.