A possible 65.4 million tonnes of e-waste could wreak havoc in landfills by 2017.
The U.S remains the world’s largest e-waste polluter closely followed by China, according to a U.N think tank study.
E-Waste- which includes phones, televisions, laptops and computers, poses danger to humans and the environment alike due to lead, mercury and other poisonous toxins present in batteries.
The StEP initiative reports the U.S dumped more than 9.4 million metric tons of e-waste in 2012, more than 2 million metric tons more than its economic rival. Per Capita, each person in the U.S is responsible for 30 kilograms (66 pounds) compared to the global average of 7 kilograms (15 pounds) per person.
However, Yahoo! says China could soon catch up due to its top position in the electrical goods market at 11.1 million metric tons. According to StEP, electronic waste will become worse as it could grow by a third to 65.4 million tonnes by 2017 threatening to have devastating effects on the environment.
StEP secretariat Ruediger Kuehr says developing countries such as Ghana and South Africa can also be blamed for the growing epidemic.
"There is a hunger of humankind for technology that makes our lives easier. It's not only the communication technologies but also medical devices, washing machines and e-toys that are very popular around Christmas time."
The e-waste world map can be viewed here.
Source: StEP Initiative via Yahoo! | Image via Eco News
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