SMARTPHONES GENERATED ELECTRONIC WASTE MANAGEMENT IN BANGLADESH: POLICY ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATION FOR AN EFFECTIVE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

Abstract

A new environmental threat has been imposed by smartphone-generated e-waste as almost 4Billion people around the globe are using it randomly. People use and discard worthlesssmartphones with no regard for environmental damage or long-term sustainability. The largevolume of electronic waste (e-waste) generated from Smartphones is becoming a major concern inBangladesh also. The garbage from mobile phones is very harmful because it contains heavymetals that are detrimental to the environment and human health. The Medical WasteManagement Rules of 2008 address waste management challenges in the medical sector, includingsmartphone-generated e-waste along with Bangladesh’s National Environmental Policy of 1992and Environment Conservation Act of 1995. These policies are not adequate to mitigate pollutionand regulate the waste disposal and management system. The paper, after careful examination of theenvironmental impacts and existing policies, has recommended measures for an effectiveregulatory framework for the management and disposal of smartphones generated electronic waste.