Recently, a group of experts began examining the lack of electronic waste recycling sources in Qatar. Currently, there is no viable facility used to recycle e-waste, nor are there any laws that require it. So what happens to used mobile phones, computers and the like? When it comes to electronics resellers and service centres, the environment ministry simply tells them to accumulate the waste. One retailer wanted to know just how long they are supposed to keep it up. No one seems to have a good answer.
Sorry to say that because there are no policies or facilities to encourage, or even require, residents and businesses to recycle their e-waste, it ends up being mixed in with regular rubbish that is sent to landfill.
Even if certain components are removed from the electronics, throwing them away along with regular refuse is just asking for trouble. Take mobile phones, for example. Mobile phones contain a number of toxic materials and chemicals that can cause a significant amount of damage if put into a landfill. Toxic elements such as mercury, cadmium, beryllium, arsenic, lead, copper, and zinc can easily end up in the soil and ground water, thereby polluting the food chain. Some experts claim that the amount of toxins mobile phones is rather small. While this may be true, consider that millions of mobile phones are being tossed away every year. This is even more dangerous considering that the landfill in Qatar is old and not properly equipped to prevent these types of chemicals from leaching into the ground.
To learn more, go to: portal.www.gov.qa
Source: Gulf-Times.com
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