In Agbogbloshie, a district of Ghana's capital Accra, at least <a href="https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Environment/Documents/Toolbox/GEM_2020_def.pdf" target="_blank" target="_blank">5,000</a> informal scrap metal workers come each day to burn electric and electronic equipment, or e-waste, extracting precious and critical metals from the material.
In Agbogbloshie, a district of Ghana's capital Accra, at least 5,000 informal scrap metal workers come each day to burn electric and electronic equipment, or e-waste, extracting precious and critical metals from the material.
Thomas Imo/Photothek/Getty Images
Fire has exposed these copper windings from old electronics. E-waste is defined as products with circuitry and a power supply or battery. The gamut of e-waste runs from toys and appliances to everyday home and office electronics, which end up at dump sites around the world when not properly recycled.
Fire has exposed these copper windings from old electronics. E-waste is defined as products with circuitry and a power supply or battery. The gamut of e-waste runs from toys and appliances to everyday home and office electronics, which end up at dump sites around the world when not properly recycled.
Friedrich Stark/Alamy
It's estimated there is 100-times more gold in a metric ton of e-waste than in gold ore, according to the <a href="https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/un-report-time-seize-opportunity-tackle-challenge-e-waste" target="_blank" target="_blank">UN environment program</a>, with more precious metals contained in discarded circuit boards like these.
It's estimated there is 100-times more gold in a metric ton of e-waste than in gold ore, according to the UN environment program, with more precious metals contained in discarded circuit boards like these.
Thomas Imo/Photothek/Getty Images
E-waste, along with other waste, carpets the ground in Agbogbloshie's scrapyard. The surrounding area is Ghana's largest informal settlement, known as Old Fadama. A 2011 <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/24000/afr280032011en.pdf" target="_blank" target="_blank">Amnesty International report</a> estimated as many as 79,000 people live there.
E-waste, along with other waste, carpets the ground in Agbogbloshie's scrapyard. The surrounding area is Ghana's largest informal settlement, known as Old Fadama. A 2011 Amnesty International report estimated as many as 79,000 people live there.
Gioia Forster/picture alliance/Getty Images
Described by the UN-affiliated Global E-Waste Monitor (GEM) as a "<a href="https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Environment/Documents/Toolbox/GEM_2020_def.pdf" target="_blank" target="_blank">well-organized scrapyard</a>" -- not just a dumping ground -- the daily scrap burning in Agbogbloshie poses serious environmental and health risks to recyclers and nearby residents. Signs like these are posted to warn of the risks.
Described by the UN-affiliated Global E-Waste Monitor (GEM) as a "well-organized scrapyard" -- not just a dumping ground -- the daily scrap burning in Agbogbloshie poses serious environmental and health risks to recyclers and nearby residents. Signs like these are posted to warn of the risks.
Thomas Imo/Photothek/Getty Images
Burning e-waste is the easiest way for people to get paid for salvaging metals. Yet <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5048578/" target="_blank" target="_blank">one study</a> found informal scrapyard workers earn just $2 to $5 a day.
Burning e-waste is the easiest way for people to get paid for salvaging metals. Yet one study found informal scrapyard workers earn just $2 to $5 a day.
Maniglia Romano/Pacific Press/Alamy
Although many second-hand appliances could be refurbished and repurposed across the world, they are often categorized as e-waste and exported illegally disguised as scrap metal, according to the GEM report.
Although many second-hand appliances could be refurbished and repurposed across the world, they are often categorized as e-waste and exported illegally disguised as scrap metal, according to the GEM report.
Christian Thompson/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Globally, as much as 20% of all e-waste is exported. On the African continent, much of it comes here to Agbogbloshie; a 2011 <a href="http://www.basel.int/Implementation/Ewaste/EwasteinNigerandSwaziland/EwasteinAfrica/Overview/tabid/2546/Default.aspx" target="_blank" target="_blank">Basel Convention report</a> found that Ghana imported roughly 150,000 tons of e-waste per year.
Globally, as much as 20% of all e-waste is exported. On the African continent, much of it comes here to Agbogbloshie; a 2011 Basel Convention report found that Ghana imported roughly 150,000 tons of e-waste per year.
Thomas Imo/Photothek/Getty Images
Discarded mobile phones may contain <a href="https://money.cnn.com/2011/10/13/technology/iphone_trade_in/index.htm#:~:text=There%20are%200.034%20grams%20of,about%20%241.82%20at%20today's%20prices.&text=There%20are%20also%2016%20grams,platinum%2C%20valued%20at%202%20cents" target="_blank">precious metals</a> such as gold and copper. Initiatives to recycle phones even include the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games; in 2019, the organizing committee recycled 6.2 million mobile phones, among other small electronic devices -- extracting 32 kilograms of gold -- as part of its <a href="https://tokyo2020.org/en/games/medals-project/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Tokyo 2020 Medal Project</a>.
Discarded mobile phones may contain precious metals such as gold and copper. Initiatives to recycle phones even include the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games; in 2019, the organizing committee recycled 6.2 million mobile phones, among other small electronic devices -- extracting 32 kilograms of gold -- as part of its Tokyo 2020 Medal Project.
Thomas Imo/Photothek/Getty Images
The amount of e-waste from screens and monitors decreased by 1% since 2014, according to the GEM report. Boxy CRT (cathode-ray tube) monitors have been replaced by flatter, lighter screens, which decreases the weight.
The amount of e-waste from screens and monitors decreased by 1% since 2014, according to the GEM report. Boxy CRT (cathode-ray tube) monitors have been replaced by flatter, lighter screens, which decreases the weight.
Thomas Imo/Photothek/Getty Images
Copper, iron and gold contribute to the approximately <a href="https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Environment/Documents/Toolbox/GEM_2020_def.pdf" target="_blank" target="_blank">$57 billion</a> value of global e-waste that was generated in 2019. But only a fraction of the total e-waste is properly recycled, leaving billions of dollars' worth of untapped precious metals.
Copper, iron and gold contribute to the approximately $57 billion value of global e-waste that was generated in 2019. But only a fraction of the total e-waste is properly recycled, leaving billions of dollars' worth of untapped precious metals.
Friedrich Stark/Alamy