The United Nations Environmental Program released a report Monday declaring that the expected exponential rise in global electronics waste over the next decade, especially in developing countries, poses serious threats to public and environmental health.

The report, entitled “Recycling -- from E-Waste to Resources” was released in Bali, Indonesia on Monday at a meeting of the Basel Convention. The report used data from 11 developing countries and estimates the current and future electronic waste volumes based on electronics purchasing trends.

E-waste generation is expected to skyrocket in the coming decade, as small electronics sales grow rapidly in developing nations. The largest increases will be seen in India, with a 500% increase in e-waste generation, and South Africa/China who will see a 200%-400% increase.

The United States is the largest producer of e-waste in the world, with a yearly output of 3 million tons. China produces the second largest amount at 2.3 million tons. China’s waste generation is expected to continue its growth trend due to new electronic sales, as well as the import of e-waste from other countries. UNEP executive director Achim Steiner used the report to call on countries to address the issue in a swift and effective manner – and to emphasize that developing nations could use this as an opportunity to “generate decent employment, cut greenhouse gas emissions and recover a wide range of valuable metals including silver, gold, palladium, copper and indium."

Other report findings include:

* global e-waste generation is growing by about 40 million tonnes a year

* manufacturing mobile phones and personal computers consumes three percent of the gold and silver mined worldwide each year; 13 percent of the palladium and 15 percent of cobalt

* more than a billion mobile phones were sold around the world in 2007, up from 896 million in 2006

Reprinted with permission from Sustainable Life Media