UAE landfill sites are receiving large amounts of electronic waste containing toxic substances that are contaminating groundwater, soil and damaging human health.
Dubai is expected to spend $2.8 billion on consumer electronics this year and mobile phone ownership is expected to reach a record 140% penetration. Frequent upgrades by technology loving consumers is a big worry because of the careless way old models are discarded. Most electronic goods are going to landfill with concerns growing on the rising heavy metal levels in groundwater supplies. It is sobering to note that just one mobile phone in landfill could contaminate 600,000 litres of water.
There is no waste segregation in homes and the irresponsible disposal of hazardous electronic waste could be slowly turning some Dubai suburbs toxic. The implications are that lead, mercury, cadmium and other toxic chemicals leach into the soil, poisoning vegetation and animals feeding on it. These carcinogenic substances have the potential to cause serious damage to human health. The function of the brain, kidneys and other vital organs could be affected.
The problem seems to be the rapid obsolescence of electronic products such as mobile phones combined with no clear guidance to consumers on how to dispose of them safely. The exact levels of e-waste generation in UAE have not been precisely determined and environmental concerns are based on the huge increase in disposals to landfill. As well as irresponsible consumer behaviour, there is a lack of legislation or infrastructure to deal with the problem.