Final answer:
E-waste refers to discarded electronic devices, and it is growing rapidly as a global garbage segment, prompting some governments to enact stricter recycling regulations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Electronic waste, or e-waste, encompasses obsolete, broken, and worn-out electronics like household appliances, computers, phones, and even solar panels. As the fastest growing segment of garbage production globally, it poses significant environmental challenges due to toxic chemicals and precious metals that require complex recycling processes.
Developing countries often become dumping grounds for wealthy nations' e-waste, leading to hazardous conditions for workers extracting valuable materials without proper environmental regulation. Governments, like those in the European Union and California, have begun implementing stricter regulations to reduce toxins in electronics and promote responsible end-of-life recycling.