TECH TRASH: TACKLING SRI LANKA'S GROWING E-WASTE CRISIS

Despite its growing impact, the Electronic waste or E-waste problem in Sri Lanka remains largely under-recognised and downplayed. This environmental concern receives less public awareness and government attention when compared to issues such as plastic pollution or deforestation. As Sri Lanka continues to adopt new technologies, discarded devices including computers, mobile phones, televisions, and other electronic equipment are piling up at an alarming rate.

- By Zainab Hussein

In Sri Lanka, approximately 110,000 metric tons of electronic waste are generated annually. This includes discarded batteries, computers, mobile phones, televisions, and other electronic items from both household and industrial sectors. The lack of a proper E-waste collection and recycling system has led to unsafe disposal methods like burning and landfill dumping—turning it into a silent but serious threat to public health and the environment.

When asked about the negative impact of E-waste on the environment, particularly in terms of soil and water pollution, Hemantha Withanage, chairperson of the Centre for Environmental Justice, said “E-waste contains various hazardous chemicals like arsenic, nickel, lead, mercury and cadmium, and when electronics are discarded improperly, these substances seep into the soil, then contaminate water sources, and eventually enter our bodies. Although E-waste may appear to be less compared to other types of solid waste, its environmental impact is severe. E-waste is not limited to just televisions, phones, or computers. Items like batteries, smart watches, and even some toys with circuit boards also fall into this category.”

Lack of proper recycling facilities