Call for circular life cycle of e-products

Experts have emphasised a circular economic approach to the entire life cycle of electronic goods, from design and production to recycling and reuse, for both economic and environmental benefits.
They laid stress on the need for effective e-waste management has become more critical than ever as Bangladesh experiences rapid technological advancements and increased electronic device consumption.
The speakers at a seminar on Saturday demanded awareness campaigns and practical legislative implementation to address the increasing problems of e-waste and its appropriate management.
According to them, e-waste is currently surging at a rate of 30 per cent every year in Bangladesh.
The e-waste management industry is a yet unexplored area of potential business and the government can address unemployment issues by supporting and promoting formal recycle systems.
VOICE, an advocacy-focused civil-society organisation, held the consultation seminar styled 'Strengthening Circular Approach of Digital Technology for Environmental Sustainability' in the capital.
Policymakers, private-sector companies, e-waste management industry, civil-society platforms, academicians and experts joined the talks focusing on the current trend of e-waste management in Bangladesh and its prospect in circular economy.
The event was hosted at DSK Centre in Mohammadpur. Tarit Kanti Biswas, consultant of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), moderated the event.
Disaster management and relief joint secretary Dr ATM Mahbub-ul-Karim, Dr Mir Md Mozammal Hoque of Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Change Initiative chief executive M Zakir Hossain Khan, Gazi Md Golam Sadek of Azizu Recycling and e-Waste Company Ltd, and Ashok Leyland Bangladesh manager Muhammad Asif Hossain, among others, spoke.
According to a keynote presented at the programme, in 2022, Bangladesh produced around 3.0-million tonnes of e-waste, including scraps from ship-breaking yards.
It said recyclers got only 3.0 per cent of the total generated e-waste, while the rest is dumped into landfills, extracted informally or burnt illegally.
"Most significantly, pregnant women and children living close to e-waste dumps are the worst victims," it said, adding that 35-per cent unborn babies also die, also endangering mothers' life.
Dr Karim said a government policy was in place to tackle e-waste hazards, suggesting that business entities and stakeholders proactively participate in reduction of e-waste being responsible for environmental impact.
VOICE executive director Ahmed Swapan Mahmud said the improper disposal and management of e-waste pose ecological and health risks due to hazardous components like heavy metals, flame retardants and toxic chemicals.
He called for policymakers to support e-waste industry and enforce e-waste management and recycling regulations for safeguarding ecological sustainability.
Mr Sadek said there was a great opportunity of job creation and developing entrepreneurship in the e-waste management industry with the government patronising and incentivising the private sector.
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