logo
#

Latest news with #electronicwaste

With e-waste surging, DOE urges stronger action from state governments against illegal dumps
With e-waste surging, DOE urges stronger action from state governments against illegal dumps

Malay Mail

time15 hours ago

  • Business
  • Malay Mail

With e-waste surging, DOE urges stronger action from state governments against illegal dumps

KUALA LUMPUR, July 31 — Malaysia is seeing a steady rise in electronic waste (e-waste) generation consistent with the country's growing dependence on digital devices, the Department of Environment (DOE) said today. Its director-general, Datuk Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar, revealed that from January 1, 2021, to June 30 this year, a total of 536,709 metric tonnes of e-waste were processed by licensed facilities nationwide. 'If e-waste is not properly managed and is disposed of indiscriminately, it can have serious implications for human health and the environment,' he said during the department's media engagement session today. To improve e-waste management, Wan Abdul Latiff said the number of licensed recovery facilities has been expanded to 128, public awareness campaigns have been strengthened, and enforcement against unlicensed handlers has been intensified through special operations codenamed 'Ops Hazard.' The director-general also issued a strong call for state governments, local councils, and land offices to crack down on illegal factories and unauthorised waste dumping sites. He said many illegal factories continue to operate unchecked until they cause significant environmental harm. 'These operations should be shut down early, not after pollution has already occurred. The same applies to illegal dumpsites that catch fire,' he asserted. When asked, Wan Abdul Latiff explained that the DOE does not have complete records on the number of illegal factories, as many are only detected during monitoring activities or through intelligence provided by other agencies. He highlighted the scale of the challenge, noting that in one recent integrated operation, 90 per cent of the 122 factories raided were found to be operating illegally. Wan Abdul Latiff also shed light on the manpower shortages hindering the department's enforcement capabilities. 'Right now, we have only 1,113 officers for all of Malaysia, and we are expected to monitor everything. But with our current staffing levels, it's just not feasible,' he said, explaining that his officers are responsible for a wide range of environmental issues beyond just air pollution. He confirmed that the DOE has formally submitted a request to the Public Services Department for the creation of up to 3,000 new positions to address this shortfall.

Scientists discover innovative method to pull gold out of common waste: 'It is increasingly important'
Scientists discover innovative method to pull gold out of common waste: 'It is increasingly important'

Yahoo

time5 days ago

  • Science
  • Yahoo

Scientists discover innovative method to pull gold out of common waste: 'It is increasingly important'

There's treasure in trash — literally. Discarded computers, circuit boards, and other electronic waste contain valuable metals like gold. Now, breakthrough research could make extracting gold easier and cleaner. A study by Flinders University unveiled a new process that can recover high-purity gold from both ore and electronic waste. The process uses a disinfectant called trichloroisocyanuric acid, commonly used in water sanitation. When activated with salt water, it becomes powerful enough to dissolve gold without the need for mercury or cyanide. Then, a custom polymer sorbent binds the extracted gold and separates it from other metals and waste. The process does not rely on toxic substances. "It is increasingly important to develop safe and versatile methods to purify gold from varying sources," said Dr. Lynn Lisboa, one of the lead authors of the study. What makes this discovery especially promising is that the polymer binding the gold can be reused. Once it collects the gold, it's triggered to "unmake" itself, allowing both the gold and polymer to be recovered and recycled. This closed-loop design helps prevent waste while reducing the cost of materials needed for future recovery. Gold is essential in electronics, medicine, and the aerospace industry. But traditional extraction releases enormous amounts of toxic mercury and cyanide, especially from small-scale mining, which emits over 2,000 tons of mercury every year, according to the United Nations Environment Programme. WWF reported that cyanide spills have led to fish kills and long-term ecosystem damage, like what happened in the Tisza River system in 2000. As e-waste continues to pile up globally, old electronics, such as phones and laptops, often end up in landfills, leaking harmful chemicals into the environment. By making gold recovery safer and more efficient, the new technique from Flinders University offers a cleaner way to handle discarded electronic materials. The research team is now working with recyclers and miners to scale the technology. Similar efforts are underway in Switzerland, where researchers are also using food by-products such as whey to recover gold from circuit boards. Innovations like these highlight how circular economy thinking — recovering valuable materials from the products we discard — can help reduce e-waste, support cleaner production, and lower the need for resource-intensive mining.

Carrier becomes latest global firm to sue India over electronic waste rules
Carrier becomes latest global firm to sue India over electronic waste rules

Yahoo

time07-07-2025

  • Business
  • Yahoo

Carrier becomes latest global firm to sue India over electronic waste rules

By Aditya Kalra and Arpan Chaturvedi NEW DELHI (Reuters) -The Indian unit of U.S. air conditioning giant Carrier has become the latest major firm to sue Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government over electronic waste rules that have hiked the fees manufacturers must pay to recyclers. South Korea's Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics as well as Japan's Daikin and Tata's Voltas have also brought suits, which are set to be heard by the High Court of Delhi on Tuesday. All of the companies are seeking to have the rules quashed. India is the third-biggest generator of electronic waste behind China and the U.S., but the government says only 43% of the country's e-waste last year was recycled. Modi's government in September fixed a floor price that electronics makers must pay recyclers, which manufacturers argue is roughly three to four times higher than what they paid earlier. In a 380-page court filing dated June 3, which has not been disclosed publicly, Carrier said recyclers were willing to continue their work at the older prices and the government should not interfere in private dealings between companies and recyclers. "The burden of the benefit being given to the recyclers has been put on the producers, which is unfair and arbitrary," said submissions by Carrier Airconditioning & Refrigeration which were reviewed by Reuters. The submissions added that the rules will impose a "huge financial burden" on the company. Carrier did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. India's Ministry of Environment also did not respond to Reuters queries. It has previously argued in court that the pricing rules are needed to ensure proper waste disposal and were a "reasonable" intervention. The new rules mandate a minimum payment of 22 rupees per kilogram to recycle consumer electronics. Such rates are still lower than levels in the U.S where they are up to five times higher, according to research firm Redseer. Carrier reported sales of $248 million in India last year, its highest level since at least the financial year ending March 2020. Its filing said it installed India's first-ever air conditioning system in Jaipur city in 1936. Sign in to access your portfolio

Carrier becomes latest global firm to sue India over electronic waste rules
Carrier becomes latest global firm to sue India over electronic waste rules

Yahoo

time07-07-2025

  • Business
  • Yahoo

Carrier becomes latest global firm to sue India over electronic waste rules

By Aditya Kalra and Arpan Chaturvedi NEW DELHI (Reuters) -The Indian unit of U.S. air conditioning giant Carrier has become the latest major firm to sue Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government over electronic waste rules that have hiked the fees manufacturers must pay to recyclers. South Korea's Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics as well as Japan's Daikin and Tata's Voltas have also brought suits, which are set to be heard by the High Court of Delhi on Tuesday. All of the companies are seeking to have the rules quashed. India is the third-biggest generator of electronic waste behind China and the U.S., but the government says only 43% of the country's e-waste last year was recycled. Modi's government in September fixed a floor price that electronics makers must pay recyclers, which manufacturers argue is roughly three to four times higher than what they paid earlier. In a 380-page court filing dated June 3, which has not been disclosed publicly, Carrier said recyclers were willing to continue their work at the older prices and the government should not interfere in private dealings between companies and recyclers. "The burden of the benefit being given to the recyclers has been put on the producers, which is unfair and arbitrary," said submissions by Carrier Airconditioning & Refrigeration which were reviewed by Reuters. The submissions added that the rules will impose a "huge financial burden" on the company. Carrier did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. India's Ministry of Environment also did not respond to Reuters queries. It has previously argued in court that the pricing rules are needed to ensure proper waste disposal and were a "reasonable" intervention. The new rules mandate a minimum payment of 22 rupees per kilogram to recycle consumer electronics. Such rates are still lower than levels in the U.S where they are up to five times higher, according to research firm Redseer. Carrier reported sales of $248 million in India last year, its highest level since at least the financial year ending March 2020. Its filing said it installed India's first-ever air conditioning system in Jaipur city in 1936. Effettua l'accesso per consultare il tuo portafoglio

Researchers discover mind-blowing method to give old smartphones new life: 'A new way of thinking about the old'
Researchers discover mind-blowing method to give old smartphones new life: 'A new way of thinking about the old'

Yahoo

time04-07-2025

  • Science
  • Yahoo

Researchers discover mind-blowing method to give old smartphones new life: 'A new way of thinking about the old'

In a time when the average smartphone is replaced every two to three years, researchers in Estonia have found an innovative way to give old devices a meaningful second life — by turning them into tiny data centers. This new approach could reshape the way we think about electronics, pollution, and the digital systems that power our lives. It's a sustainable tech breakthrough that offers more than just a clever reuse — it has the potential to reduce electronic waste, save money, and unlock new possibilities for greener data processing. Every year, the world produces over 1.2 billion smartphones. Manufacturing them uses up energy and precious raw materials and contributes heavily to pollution. And while some of these phones are recycled, many end up in landfills — sometimes with their batteries still inside, leaking toxic chemicals into the environment. But the problem doesn't stop with waste. There's also growing demand for data centers — the massive facilities that store and process information for everything from email to AI. These centers are energy-intensive and expensive to build. At the University of Tartu's Institute of Computer Science, researchers have created a working prototype that turns old smartphones into mini data centers. The devices are deconstructed — their batteries removed and replaced with safer, external power sources — then mounted into 3D-printed holders and linked together. The whole setup costs just around €8 per phone, or about $9. Once connected, these upcycled phones can collect, store, and analyze data. One early test involved marine life monitoring. Instead of relying on a diver to manually capture footage, the underwater phone-powered center automatically identified and recorded sea creatures — all in real time. Another potential application? Urban environments. These smartphone clusters could be installed at bus stops to count passengers and help improve public transportation schedules. The research, published in IEEE Pervasive Computing, shows that with just a small investment, smartphones once considered "e-waste" can take on important new jobs — no cutting-edge chips or big budgets needed. And while consumer behavior shifts — like holding onto your phone longer — remain the most sustainable solution, innovations like this provide a smart, realistic way to reduce pollution and extend the usefulness of our devices. As Associate Professor of Pervasive Computing Huber Flores put it: "Innovation often begins not with something new, but with a new way of thinking about the old, re-imagining its role in shaping the future." Which of these factors would most effectively motivate you to recycle old clothes and electronics? Giving me money back Letting me trade for new stuff Making it as easy as possible Keeping my stuff out of landfills Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Right now, the data center prototype is still in its early stages. But researchers say future versions could be easier to assemble and adapt to more types of hardware. With further development, we could see these tiny data centers powering smart cities, community centers, and conservation projects — all using tech we already have. It's a small idea with big potential — and a reminder that sometimes, the smartest solution starts with what's already in our hands. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store