Question

About how much in used or unwanted electronic items accumulates every year nationwide?
A. 10,000 tons
B. 100,000 tons
C. 1 million tons
D. 2 million tons

Answer 1

Hint: E-waste is an unwanted electronic product. It is the electronic waste that is not working or is at the end of their useful life. Televisions, computers, copiers, stereos, VCRs and fax machines are everyday electronic products and are very much part of our daily routine.

Complete answer: E-waste causes environmental pollution. Electronic waste is generated from toxic chemicals and heavy metals oozing out of the electronic devices that we simply dispose of without processing them properly. Leaching of these chemicals and metals into soils in landfills leads to the pollution of air and water supplies, which is caused by improper recycling techniques in developing countries. E-Waste contains many harmful chemicals. These harmful chemicals include cathode rays, beryllium, barium, nickel, arsenic, lead and mercury. These chemicals tend to leak many hazardous materials into the air and soil creating an extremely unhealthy environment when broken down in landfills. E-waste that is collected is recycled manually by disassembling and assorting into its various components. These components include cabling, circuit boards, glass, metals and plastics. These individual materials are then processed for use as raw materials in new products. It is witnessed that around 2 million tons of unwanted electronics waste are generated every year around the world.
Hence, the correct answer is option D.

Note: E-waste impacts the soil in a very negative manner. Heavy toxic metals including lead, arsenic, and cadmium are released after the breakdown of e-waste which badly influences the growth of plants, trees and organisms that live in water.