Informal and semi-formal electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) management: a socio technical study of risks, perceptions, interventions, and educational opportunities

Abstract

The expansion of technology in the 21st century is accompanied by a growing production of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), including laptops, cellphones, refrigerators, kitchen appliances, and toys. The global consumption of EEE is increasing annually by 2.5 million metric tons, generating one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the world, known as “e-waste” or “WEEE.” Throughout the last decade, because of the complexity of its management and the toxicity and high relevance of many materials in EEE, e-waste was prioritized in the agendas of various international organizations. Furthermore, this waste stream is becoming an increasingly important source of income for many vulnerable communities. In this context, research has begun to focus on the environmental and health risks for informal e-waste workers, their families and neighbors. While most projects and studies have assessed effects on women and children in Africa or Asia, very few have aimed to assist low-income workers in Latin America to apply the best management practices and reduce risks with a simultaneous positive impact on their economies. To contribute to filling this gap, through a mixed-methods and participatory approach, this thesis identifies chemical risks and risk perceptions in two informal and semi-formal e-waste management scenarios in Buenos Aires (Argentina). Then, it proposes risk reduction interventions based on the NIOSH Hierarchy of Controls and the Engineering and Sustainable Community Development criteria. Targeting five main audiences (workers, governmental officials, scholars, professors, and students), this study motivates the incorporation of e-waste as a topic for engineering education and encourages research and action toward occupational safety in non-formal settings. Finally, it recommends a focus on not only the environmental and health protection of workers and their communities but also the socio-economic development of these “invisibilized waste management heroes.”