Agbobloshie is a slum situated in Accra, Ghana and is a representation of the uncontrolled global e-waste management. The slum is a dump site overflown with discarded electronic devices from around the world. As you navigate the streets, the relentless sound of chisels striking electronics fills the air, primarily for the extraction of copper and aluminum. Each step you take resonates with the crunch of shattered leaded glass from old CRT televisions, while the toxic fumes from burning PVC-coated wires irritate your nostrils.
The scene is horrifying and fascinating at the same time and highlights the consequences of mismanagement of e-waste. I had the chance to visit the slum and talk to some workers.
The e-waste in Ghana is a global problem
Agbobloshie is a symptom of a much larger global issue. As technology advances at an unprecedented pace and hyper-consumerism is promoted, so too does the volume of electronic waste. Some manufacturers design products with a limited lifespan, contributing to the e-waste problem. Developed countries export their e-waste to developing nations like Ghana, falsely labelled as charity, where it is then recycled in environmental unfriendly ways (as per source). The proper recycling and disposal in developed countries requires high investments and expensive workforce. Informal e-waste in Ghana recycling was born.
We could say that the source of e-waste in Ghana is responsible for this, which happens to be mainly from the Western nations. Furthermore, lax environmental regulations in several developed countries facilitate the export of old electronics ending up in Ghana. While international trade plays a major role in the influx of e-waste to Agbobloshie, it’s not the sole source. The combination of both domestic and international factors contributes to the massive accumulation of electronic waste at this site.
What does international law say?
It is illegal to export hazardous waste according to the Basel Convention, an international treaty on the control of movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal. Many countries, including Ghana, have signed this convention. While the Basel Convention aims to prevent the illegal dumping of hazardous waste, loopholes and weak enforcement allow the continued export of e-waste to developing countries.
The impact on Health
The human cost of the recycling industry in developed countries is immense. Workers, of whom some are young children, are exposed to a myriad of health risks. Blood and urine studies conducted on workers living in Agbobloshie (source) have revealed alarming levels of heavy metal in their body. These studies have consistently shown elevated levels of lead and other toxic metals in the blood. Additionally, toxic fumes from burning wires expose workers, which increases the risk of bioaccumulation of a series of chemicals such as POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants) including dioxins and PFAS. Recyclers often perform the work without any protective equipment such as gloves, masks, or eyewear.
Other studies have also shown elevated levels of heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and arsenic in the soil and air, as well as in the bodies of workers and residents. These metals pose significant health risks, including respiratory problems, neurological disorders, and various types of cancer. Additionally, the leaching of chemicals into groundwater sources can contaminate drinking water supplies.
The exposure to these toxins comes from various sources:
- Breathing contaminated air from burning e-waste and soil dust
- Ingesting contaminated soil or food grown in polluted areas
- Indirectly from cattle raised at the dump site as well as skin contact with contaminated soil or water.
“A child who eats just one chicken egg from Agbogbloshie, a waste site in Ghana, will absorb 220 times the European Food Safety Authority daily limit for intake of chlorinated dioxins“, quoted from WHO.
The health consequences of such exposure are severe and affect children the most. Heavy metals are notorious to cause neurological damage and impaired immune functions.
The impact on the Environment
Agbobloshie’s air quality will remain among the worst as long as people openly burn cables and plastics, releasing harmful toxins into the atmosphere. The ground littered with leaded glass from old CRT televisions releases tons of lead into the soil. Multiple heavy metals have contaminated ground water and nearby rivers, destroying virtually all its aquatic life.
The pollution impacts animals and insects directly, leading to further exposure risk to humans. Groundwater and river water is used for agriculture or bathing. The locals breed livestock around the e-waste site, increasing the indirect intake of heavy metals bioaccumulated in the livestock.
The cycle is complete
Once miners extract metals, such as copper, through hazardous methods, they sell them to domestic and international metal dealers. These dealers then sell it back to to companies that process and refine the metals, ultimately making their way back into our consumer goods.
There is hope
It is encouraging to observe local community members in Agbobloshie taking initiative by establishing repair shops. These repair shops play an exemplary role in extending the lifespan of electronic devices, allowing for the possibility of refurbishing computers or the removal of functional parts from a device.
Additionally, non-profit organisations and local authorities try to tackle down the informal e-waste recycling. Non-profits have financed machines that can shred wires allowing workers to recycle the copper without burning them.
Significant efforts remain to be undertaken. The people of Agbobloshie deserve better and their living conditions must improve. Tackling down the recycling industry is not necessarily the solution as many people work in the e-waste due to lack of better economic opportunities. For many, scavenging through e-waste is a means of survival, providing a small income to support their families. More infrastructure is needed for the recycling facilities to allow extraction of precious metals with minimal impact to the environment and the area where people have to live. Furthermore, international collaboration among countries is crucial for the formulation of e-waste management policies that align with the Basel Convention but also to potentially regulate fast tech. Not to forget, the consumer should also realise that each purchase goes through a whole lifecycle from production to waste which impacts the environment.
