VietNamNet Bridge – Rapid changes in technology, changes in software, falling prices, and planned obsolescence, have resulted in a fast-growing buildup of electronic waste in Viet Nam.

Rapid changes in technology, changes in software, falling prices, and planned obsolescence, have resulted in a fast-growing buildup of electronic waste in Viet Nam. - Photothoibaokinhdoanh.vn

Cam Xa Commune in the northern province of Hung Yen's My Hao District is considered to be the "e-waste capital of the country".

E-waste, or electronic waste, describes end-of-life electrical goods, such as computers, televisions, printers, and mobile phones.

According to the deputy chairman of the communal People's Committee, Nguyen Khac Toan, the work of collecting electronic waste began ten years ago and has developed very quickly.

Today there are more than 100 area households employed in this work, which also provides jobs for hundreds of labourers in the region, he told Thoi Bao Kinh Doanh (Business Times) newspaper.

Every day, dozens of cars and trucks from these households travel throughout the country's northern areas to collect e-waste.

Hoang Van Son, an owner of an e-waste recycling workshop, said he drove his car to collect the waste in big cities such as Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh and Bac Ninh.

After disassembling and classifying all parts from these products, they would then be sold to recycling workshops, private electric repair shops or exported to China, Son added.

However, this collection and disposal are causing a variety of environmental problems, such as groundwater contamination, atmospheric pollution, and water pollution by immediate discharge, as well as health problems, including  occupational safety and health effects among those people directly and indirectly involved, due to the methods of processing the waste.

Due to the crude recycling process, many pollutants, such as heavy metals, are released from e-waste, which can easily accumulate in the human body through the inhalation of contaminated air.

"All processes of dismantling and disposing of electric waste are done by hand. The workers use only gloves and gauze.

VNS