Abstract

A relatively recent recognized hazardous waste product comes from discarded electrical and electronic equipment and is categorized as E-waste. E-Waste is chemically and physically distinct from other forms of household wastes. It contains both valuable and hazardous materials that require special handling and recycling methods to avoid environmental contamination and detrimental effects on human health. The chemical composition of E-waste varies with the development of new technologies. E-waste contains valuable metals (Ag, Au, Cu, Pt, In, Ga, etc.) as well as potential environmental contaminants, especially Pb, Sb, Hg, Cd, Ni, As, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).