WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF ELECTRONIC WASTE?

The causes of electronic waste are diverse and mainly related to rapid technological advancements, consumerism, and a lack of awareness about proper recycling. Some of the primary causes include:

1. Planned Obsolescence: Many electronics were made to stop working after a certain time, which made people keep replacing them. This included phones, computers, and household appliances.

2. Rapid Technological Innovations: Technology was changing so quickly that devices became old and less useful fast because new models with better features came out all the time.

3. Low Durability of Products: A lot of electronics didn't last long or were made with cheap materials, so they broke down quickly and were thrown away early.

4. Lack of Repair Options: It was often hard or too expensive to fix broken electronics, so people just bought new ones, adding to the pile of electronic waste.

5. Consumerism Culture: People were encouraged to buy new gadgets all the time, even if they didn't really need them. This caused more electronics to be thrown away.

6. Lack of Recycling Knowledge: Many people didn't know how to get rid of old electronics the right way or didn't have places to recycle them, so they ended up in landfills or were thrown away incorrectly.

7. Electronic Waste in Emerging Markets: In some countries, a lot of second-hand electronics were brought in, even though they were already near the end of their life, making the waste problem worse.