The amount spent by consumers in Dubai on electronics such as mobile phones is ever increasing. Regular purchasing and upgrades of phones is worrying as the surplus items they replace are being discarded of recklessly.
Residents are throwing everything into the same bin in their homes, including e-waste and as a result large areas of the desert in Dubai, where this waste is being dumped, could slowly be turning toxic. According to Enviroserve, a single phone could contaminate up to 600,000 litres of water.
A Chairperson for Emirates Environmental Group and Board Member said: “The issue is extremely grave as most people here want the latest, most advanced electronic products at all times. As they buy new ones, most of them do not know what to do with their old products and end up disposing of them irresponsibly. When these electronic products end up in a landfill, they cause grave environmental damage,”
There are drop off places for recyclable and reusable e-waste but many residents either remain ignorant of these or simply don’t want the inconvenience.
Due to lack of clear legislation, manufacturers are not obliged to take back end-of-use electronic equipment, and residents are not obliged to pay a waste tax so they get away with dumping.
There is no waste disposal fee either for trucks that empty the non-segregated waste into the landfills. Experts believe that targets and incentives need to be set.