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The UN issued a warning about the amount of electronics we are throwing away. It is at record levels. The US is worried about an "environmental catastrophe". Electronic waste often contains toxic chemicals mercury. The UN reported that in 2022, we created 62 million tons of e-waste. CNN said this could, "fill more than 1.5 million 40-ton trucks which, if placed bumper-to-bumper, could…wrap around the Equator".
A lot of e-waste is sent to poor countries for recycling. However, they often cannot recycle in a way that minimizes environmental damage. E-waste is creating many health problems. It is poisoning rivers and seas. Worryingly, 58 tons of mercury entered the environment and food chain last year. The UN blamed manufacturers for failing to accept responsibility for what happens to their products. It also blamed consumerism.
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