DENR issues warning vs cancer-causing e-waste

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) yesterday raised the alarm over cancer-causing electronic wastes, as 15 million cathode-ray tubes (CRTs) found in televisions will reach end-of-life by 2025.

CRTs contain lead that can cause cancer.

Around $6 million was provided by the Global Environment Facility for the safe management of hazardous wastes in the Philippines, Environment Undersecretary Jonas Leones said in a chance interview at the closing program in Manila of the DENR and UN Industrial Development Organization’s project.

“For the collection of lead, the component is $1 million,” Leones noted.

The project, which started in 2020, targeted the collection and recycling of 2,350 tons of CRTs and eight tons of waste from electrical and electronic equipment.

At least 107,950 units of CRTs were collected, or more than 50 percent of its target of 50,000 CRTs, Leones said.

Around 948 polybrominated diphenyl ether from plastic casings of CRTs were disposed of through encapsulation, he noted.

Bagong Silang and Camarin in Caloocan City; Longos, Malabon; Capulong, Tondo and Cebu City were covered by the project.

“Our challenge is for local government units to adopt their respective programs to address e-waste. A barangay covered by the project has been earning P35,000 a month,” Leones said.