E-WASTE IN TRANSITION FROM POLLUTION TO RESOURCE

E-waste in Transition: From Pollution to Resource examines the dual nature of waste electrical and electronic equipment as both a major pollution source and a valuable secondary resource. The book situates e-waste within global patterns of consumption, globalization, and legal and illegal international trade, emphasizing the particular vulnerabilities of transition and developing countries. It explores environmental and public health impacts of improper e-waste handling, including contamination of soil, water, food chains, and human tissues, with a focus on persistent organic pollutants and toxic metals. Comparative analyses of regulatory frameworks, collection and treatment systems, and management practices are provided for regions such as the EU, USA, Japan, China, India, and Mexico. The volume also reviews technologies and strategies for metal recovery, plastic reuse, lifetime extension of electronic products, and integration of secondary raw materials into industry. Overall, it frames e-waste management as a key component of the circular economy and outlines pathways for transitioning from hazardous disposal practices to sustainable resource recovery.