E-waste is looming as a gigantic global problem that is an increasing threat to ecology, biology and sustainability. Most of e-waste management solutions, legislations and enforcements thus far are post-factum (after the e-waste stream or damage has occurred) band aids or quick-fixes that become mutated problems of tomorrow. In exploring ethics of e-waste management, we offer an integrated before– during–after approach of inputs, processes and outputs. We first characterize the e-waste enterprise in its antecedent inputs of design and production, in its process of distribution and marketing, and in its consequent outputs of e-consumption, e-disposal and e-waste. Several ethical theories are invoked and applied and their potential for resolving the e-waste problem explored.
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