Closing the Loop on E-Waste: Health-centered Circular Economy Pathways to Reduce Environmental and Health Risks in Low- and Middle-income Countries

Abstract

The rapid expansion of electronic waste (e-waste) has emerged as a critical global sustainability challenge, with low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) bearing a disproportionate share of its environmental and health burdens. Large volumes of discarded electronics are processed through informal and weakly regulated systems that rely on manual dismantling, open burning, and crude material recovery, leading to widespread contamination of air, soil, water, and food systems. These environmental releases generate chronic exposure pathways that contribute to neurological, respiratory, reproductive, and developmental health risks, particularly among informal workers, women, and children. Using a narrative and conceptual review approach, this article synthesizes evidence across environmental science, public health, and circular economy literature to examine contamination pathways, human health impacts, and institutional constraints associated with e-waste management in LMICs. Building on this synthesis, we advance a health-embedded circular economy framework that integrates exposure reduction, equity, and governance into circular e-waste interventions. Our analysis demonstrates that circular strategies focused solely on material recovery are insufficient and may reproduce existing inequities if health protection is not treated as a core performance metric. Embedding public health considerations, social inclusion, and global responsibility into circular e-waste systems is essential for achieving sustainable and just transitions. Aligning e-waste governance with planetary health principles and the Sustainable Development Goals offers a pragmatic pathway to reduce environmental contamination, safeguard vulnerable populations, and transform e-waste from a public health liability into an opportunity for inclusive development in LMICs.