How a landscape intervention method can be used to address inequalities in electronic waste treatment process?

The rapid development of electronic technology has resulted in the annual phase-out of a large amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment, known as “e-waste,” especially in developed countries. In the context of economic globalization, the lack of relevant environmental laws and policies in developing countries and less developed countries, as well as cheap labor, has attracted developed countries to export a large amount of domestic e-waste to these countries. The chemicals produced during the low-tech dismantling process enter the air, soil, and deep groundwater, contaminating drinking water and food, and eventually entering the human body. Due to the inequality of economic and political development, the countries and regions that generate the least e-waste suffer the most. The most affected areas include, but are not limited to, China, India, and Ghana.

This paper studies the production, distribution, and movement of e-waste, and its unequal distribution and disposal patterns of e-waste on a global scale. It also analyzes the national and international recycling policies and investigates the consequences of informal dismantling practices on the economy, society, and environment.

This research selected Guiyu as the study site, where covering an area of 52.4 km2, is known as the “World’s E-waste Terminal” and a glaring example of disparity and unregulated practices in the global trade of e-waste. The proposed process of restoration in Guiyu include three phases. The first stage (Pollution Remediation) takes the first three years. Some of the less polluted farmland soil can be repaired first, while cleaning up the remaining waste in the river. In the second stage (Ecological Resilience Recovery), from the third to the sixth year, most of the remaining farmland and rivers are repaired by the planting of specific hyper-accumulators that absorb pollutants such as heavy metals. Phase III: Increased Biodiversity and Economic Development, the ecological restoration has been completed, and the environment of the site has turned into a new landscape.

Depending on where the e-waste is stacked and the space it will indirectly impact, the conceptualized design strategies integrate the three land use types of the site: farmland, river, and urban construction area. From the perspective of landscape intervention, these three land use types can be combined with five concepts: ecological restoration, flood management, stormwater purification, spatial programs, and livelihood income. These five concepts are integrated to form a comprehensive system aimed at addressing the environmental and social issues stemming from the global unequal treatment of e-waste. This not only mitigates the negative environmental impacts of e-waste, but also provides a healthier and a better living environment for local communities. This study enhances our understanding of the interconnections between global e-waste flow, unequal emissions, and landscape interventions, contributing to comprehensive solutions for more just and sustainable e-waste management.

The work entitled “From Electronic Waste to Ecological Restoration: The Study on the Unequal Treatment Model and Landscape Intervention Method of Electronic Waste From a Global Perspective” was published on the journal of Landscape Architecture Frontiers (February 15, 2024).