UAE scientists work towards making e-wastes recyclable
UAE scientists work towards making e-wastes recyclable
In a bid to get rid of millions of tons of electronic wastes that comes from people’s daily lives, like outdated and broken LED devices, mobile phones, refrigerators, and computers, scientists in the UAE are working on finding solutions to toxic components in e-wastes.
According to the United Nations, the world produces more than 50 million of e-waste annually, which is more than the total weight of all commercial planes ever built. It added that only 20 percent of the e-waste is recycled.
In an interview with Times Higher Education, Mohammed Noor Al Tarawneh, an associate professor in the Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Department at United Arab Emirates University, said that his team is working on removing the toxic substances that could be released from wastes and cause pollution to the soil and water. “Our research could also potentially transform e-waste components into value-added products,” he told the journal.
He added that the e-waste can be transformed into fuel or other chemical components for construction work.
More than 20 million tons of e-waste have been thrown so far in 2023 worldwide, according to the World Counts, while e-waste could rise 500% in some countries in upcoming years.
