1.0 IntroductionElectronic waste (e-waste) is one of the fastest growing contributors to the nation's waste stream. Waste can generally be defined as any material or substance that is no longer useful and has been discarded. Electronic waste is in particular waste of electrical and electronic equipment whose operation depends on electric currents or electromagnetic fields (including all components, subassemblies and consumables which are part of the original equipment at the time of their disposal). This report will describe the development of e-waste as an environmental problem and then highlight both the environmental impacts and economic impacts of e-waste. An analysis of historical attempts to address this problem will then be discussed, followed by suggestions and recommendations for consideration by the Australian Government Senate Environment Committee.2.0 Development of e-wasteRapid technological changes over recent decades have led to a dramatic increase in the production of electrical goods and equipment. To stay up to date in this technological era, consumers have been constantly upgrading their electronic devices to replace and discard the outdated ones. Additionally, economies of scale have balanced over time to drive down the prices of many electrical products, further increasing demand for these products. In a 2009 study by the Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC), in the years 2007 to 2008, of the 16.8 million computers that had reached their potential "end of life", only 1.5 million were recycled (< 9%), with the remainder sent to landfill or stored. It is predicted that by 2028, the accumulated volume of computers and televisions that will reach the end of their useful life will reach more than...... middle of paper ......e framework for managing the waste disposal on a voluntary, co-regulatory and mandatory basis. The government should make compliance with the legislation mandatory for businesses that generate a certain amount of revenue from electronic and electrical equipment in Australia. Finally, Australia is currently underutilizing its existing recycling facilities. These facilities can be encouraged to manage e-waste recycling without increasing investment costs. It is estimated that our country currently recycles only 4% of its electronic waste, compared to more than 80% in Japan. Only 20% of the capacity of all recycling facilities in Australia is currently in use. By promoting the collection of e-waste and processing it through our recycling facilities, we will not only manage the growing problem, but also make our current facilities more efficient..