Agbogbloshie e-waste burning causes toxic air pollution in Ghana

In Agbogbloshie, Ghana, the informal processing of electronic waste is causing severe environmental and health crises. Scavengers, referred to as ‘Burner Boys’, burn cables to extract copper, a process that releases toxic substances like lead and mercury into the atmosphere.

Investigations have found that air pollutants in Agbogbloshie consistently exceed World Health Organization standards. The pollution stems from multiple sources, including the open burning of e-waste, methane from general waste, and vehicle emissions. This toxic smoke poses significant health risks to residents and workers in Agbogbloshie, Old Fadama, Abbosey Okai, and surrounding settlements.

Global e-waste management remains a critical challenge. The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) reports that 77.7% of the world’s e-waste is not formally collected or recycled. Of the 62 million tonnes of electronic waste discarded annually, less than a quarter is processed through formal recycling channels.