The Problem
Ghana imports about 150,000 tons of secondhand Electronics a year, according to a 2011 study coordinated under the Basel convention, an international treaty that since 1989 has forbidden developed nations from carrying out unathorised dumping of E-waste in less developed countries.
(i)E
waste produces a lot toxic fumes such as soot which is the second most important contributer to global warming after C02(carbon dioxide).(https://www.nature.com/news/soot-a-major-contributor-to-climate-change-1.12225).
(ii).Burning of E-waste is connected with health Risks which results from direct contact with harmful materials such as lead,cadmium,chromium,brominated flame retardants or polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs) from inhalation of toxic fumes,as well as from accumulation of chemicals in the soil,water and food. (https://www.who.int/ceh/risks/ewaste/en/)
(iii). Agbogloshie is a suburb of Accra in Ghana where most of the E-waste from USA and Europe end up. Most poor people from the northern part of my country just get this waste and break them open just remove the insulated wires and burn them to obtain copper and aluminium so they can sell and make a living to take care of themselves and their families back in the north. Heavy soot produced from the toxic fumes which is the second most dominant factor towards global warming is discharged into the atmosphere Daily (from sunday to monday always 365 days in a year). Heavy metals such as lead,cadmium,chromium etc gets into their system causing them diseases like Degenrative brain disease,cancer, attacks on the central nervous system,brain tissue damage,affects prostate function etc. These poor people know all these but have no other ways to sustain themselves in Accra without doing this dangerous activities.
Burning copper wire releases carcinogens and toxins into the air and into the ground around the burn site including "dioxins,furans,polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,particulate matters,heavy metals and other pollutants.(https://encorerecyclers.com/should-you-burn-your-copper-wire-to-earn-more-money-for-scrap/).
The Zotorvic Cycle
The Zotorvic Cycle solution serves as an innovate way or measure to ensure that metals like copper and aluminium can be obtained from the thermoplastic insulators(PVC, polyethylene, ECTFE, PVDF and Nylon) without producing any Form of toxic fumes such as soot which contributes greatly to global warming. Prevents heavy metal pollution(lead, cadmium, chromium etc) from affecting the humans burning the e-waste and also prevents pollution of the land and water bodies around.
This solution contributes towards the united nations Organisation SDGs;
Goal 13: Climate Action
Goal 3: Good health and well being
Goal 1: No poverty
Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth.
This solution employed will help people get more tonnes of the Copper and aluminium without any pollution to the enviroment.
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