E-waste projection using life-span and population statistics

E-waste is the most rapidly growing problem throughout the world, which has serious future concerns over its management and recycling. This article proposes a simple approach for future e-waste projection which can be obtained by using life-span data of various electronic items along with incorporation of population statistics. For this purpose, 7-year sales data of electronic items were collected, which is then used to generate various mathematical equations. These mathematical relations are then modified by incorporating life-span and population data. By comparing sales data with their life-span (average) and population statistics, future e-waste can be quantified both in terms of specified area under investigation and proposed estimation area. The following equation is thus proposed: E-waste (In terms of quantity) = [m{Waste projection year-Life-span}-Initial data collection year + C] x Population of estimation area/Population of study area Where m and C can be obtained from plotting year-wise sales data over Excel sheet. Local as well as global projection of future e-waste can be possible with the help of final equation.