What is it that’s hazardous about electronics?
Electronic wastes contain numerous toxic substances, including lead, mercury,
cadmium, copper, lithium and brominated flame retardants. These materials can be
released to the environment as leachate from landfills or as air emissions from
waste-to-energy facilities, posing a threat to human health and the environment.
Why is improper disposal such a problem?
Old televisions and computers fill warehouses and landfills and can leak toxic
wastes into the environment if not properly handled. Unused electronics, or
e-waste, is among the fastest growing waste streams due to growing sales and
rapid obsole- scence of these products. An estimated 20 million personal
computers became obso- lete in the U.S. in 1998 and approximately 61 million
personal computers became obsolete in 2004.
What’s the problem with mercury?
Mercury has been found to be a very toxic material, and especially dangerous to
pregnant women and young children. When mercury gets into the environment, it
builds up in fish making them dangerous to eat.
Are they safe to use?
The purpose of some of the lead components is to protect the user from
radiation, so lead actually makes electronics safer to use. But these materials
are not safe if they are released into the environment, such as when the
television or com- puter is crushed or broken. |
|
The impact of this growing waste stream can decrease if reusable and valuable
components are properly recycled and recovered.
Action Plan
To retain the most value from a used system, follow the hierarchy of reuse,
repair, recycle:
Reuse computers or component parts within your family or company. Upgrade
systems to prolong life by installing more memory or other components.
Donate working computers to schools, nonprofits, or sell them to a third-party
reseller.
Give working and non-working televisions and computers to a recycler.
Purchase electronic products with increased recyclability, such as labels on the
plastic parts, or equipment that is designed for easy disassembly. |
