Tech has a dirty secret - e-waste. Discarded electronics are full of toxic chemicals and heavy metals, which can harm human health and poison the land and waters, if not properly disposed of.

Asia is the biggest generator of e-waste. And due to illegal imports, Southeast Asia is turning into an e-waste dumping ground. Thailand and Malaysia have found themselves on the receiving end of waste from Western nations.

As the safe disposal of e-waste requires specialised processes and equipment, there is simply more e-waste than many countries can handle. Some experts have called this an e-waste timebomb, as regulations and education lag far behind the problem.

But with growing consumerism, exemplified by the rush to purchase the latest mobile phone models, the e-waste conundrum may just keep piling up.

00:00 Introduction
01:12 Raiding an illegal e-waste dumping site in Chonburi, Bangkok
06:04 Toxic materials in e-waste
12:15 How does Illegal e-waste end up in Asia?
21:09 E-waste recycling process
25:56 Informal e-waste recycling sector
31:52 Impact of e-waste that ends up in landfills and incinerators
38:20 Is circular economy the key to reducing e-waste?

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