Used smartphones are the main ingredient for Olympic medals
Next year, Japan will be the host of an international scale sporting event namely Tokyo Olympics 2020. Various preparations were made by the State of Sakura, one that attracts the world's attention is changing smartphone ex become olympic medal.
Organizing committee for the Tokyo Olympics 2020 committed to using recycled materials from smartphone scrap and other electronic waste for medal-making materials that reach 5.000 not a medal, silver and bronze.
This decision was quite risky and inspired many parties. Because, Recycled material is electronic waste or e-waste which is one type of dangerous and poisonous substance.
But, this can also inspire because of electronic waste like smartphone ex, digital camera, handheld game until the laptop can still be used if managed properly. One example is the Olympic medal.
Electronic waste itself continues to grow every year. Based on data from the UN, the world community produces 44,7 million tonnes of electronic waste on 2016, numbers that continue to climb between 3% until 4% every year. Until 2021 later, the amount of electronic waste is estimated to reach 52 million tons.
Nah, if there is an initiative like that of the Tokyo Olympic committee 2020, of course it will be very helpful in managing electronic waste which actually includes Hazardous and Toxic Materials or B3 waste.
The lack of knowledge of the Indonesian people regarding the dangers of B3 waste
In Indonesia itself, knowledge of e-waste this is still very minimal. Now let's look at each other's homes, how many are there smartphone unused but still stored, two, three or more of them? Just 'sitting' in the corner of the house.
Whereas, smartphone including Hazardous and Toxic Materials or B3 waste. Some dangerous substances found in smartphone the former is Arsenic, PCBs dan Kadmium.
Arsenic for example, the risks it can cause are not merely metabolic disorders in the body of humans or animals, This can also result in poisoning and even death.
Then there are the PCBs that will be persistent in the environment, and easily accumulates in the adipose tissue of humans and animals. as a result, interferes with the digestive system and is carcinogenic.
Then Cadmium is commonly used for metal plating, especially steel, iron and copper, irritative. In the long term will cause poisoning effects, and disorders of the organ systems in the human body and animals.
Rubbish smartphone is also predicted to continue to increase. In Indonesia for example, based on Canalys data, amount smartphone shipped to Indonesia during the year 2018 reach 38 million.
Meanwhile, data from Gartner states that globally the total sales volume smartphone reach 384 million, represent 84 percent of total sales of mobile devices.
For sales of all mobile phones, including feature phone, Gartner keeps track of numbers 455 million in the first quarter 2018. This number is almost double the total population of Indonesia. But, This increase cannot be fully blamed on consumers.
According to Rosa Ambarsari, Head of Waste Management Section for DKI Jakarta Provincial Environmental Service, the producer in this case is also partly responsible for this.
"So it's not just about emissions, effluent and waste generated during the production process, but also includes product management of products that have been discarded by consumers,he said.
Rosa added, apart from the manufacturer, distributors to the reconditioning industry are also responsible for managing the waste and waste generated, in accordance with Permen LH No.18/2009 concerning Licensing Procedures for Waste Management.
The handling of B3 waste must be carried out properly
The same thing was conveyed by Gufron Mahmud, President Director of PT Arah Environmental Indonesia who is also an environmentalist. According to him, there are several things that can be done to deal with B3 waste such as smartphone container well and truly.
Start by separating smartphone used with other household waste, to collect them in a special place as a temporary shelter. For example, in every RW there is a special place. After that, smartphone used can be sent to a waste processing site that meets the standards and is licensed.
"We really support government policies by taking a role in providing education to parties that generate waste, including smartphone ex. And for waste management like smartphone containers in housing, apartment, office or company, we provide management solutions through ECOFREN services,said Gufron.
As a company in charge of managing waste and garbage, Directions Environmental Indonesia (PT. DIRECTIONS) itself already has a permit as required by the government for companies that provide integrated waste and waste management solutions according to environmental control standards.