Environmental+Impacts+of+Electronic+Waste

Electronic Waste and the Environment
Current U.S. Standards | Internationally | Impacts on Health and Environment | The Truth about Recycling Efforts | Recycled Remarks

Current U.S. EPA Standards for the Safe Handling of Electronic Waste
There is no __Federal__ law to require citizens to recycle their electronics, but there are many states that require recycling programs for some electroincs and proper waste handling of those personal electronics that cannot be recycled, including Wisconsin. Those electronic items that contain **Cathode Ray Tubes**, mercury, lead or other contaminents deemed hazardous waste are subject to federal law on handling and recycling, again some states have adopted more stringent regulations, banning them from landfills all together. The general consensus is that most people are in fact storing end of life products in their homes beacuse they simply do not know what to do with them, or are unaware of what recycling programs are available for such items.Is education the solution to our e-junk? Perhaps a start but only if undertaken by the individual.

International Programs and Concerns
There is international concern over the transport and environmental impacts of electronic waste. The United Nations undertook an international accord towards minimizing, and ultimately banning the illegal dumping of electronic waste across borders. The Basel Convention which was presented by the United Nations Environment Program, was ratified in 1992 with 175 countires present. The United States was in attendance however it currently has not ratified the **Basel Convention.** In response to this program, the Basel Action Network was formed to create some follow through on the program, which serves as an international watchdog on programs. Hwowever it is important to note, that particularly in the United States this program has NO enforcement power.

Some 53 million tons of electronic waste was generated worldwide in 2009, according to ABI Research, a technology market research firm. Only about 13 percent of it was recycled (New York Times, 2010). It is interesting to note that the EPA statistics on disposal in the U.S. are slightly greater. "Of the 2.25 million tons of TVs, cell phones and computer products ready for end-of-life (EOL) management, **18%** (414,000 tons) was collected for recycling and **82%** (1.84 million tons) were __disposed of, primarily in landfills__." (US EPA 2008). The **EPA** accredited voluntary programs and regulations put in place by states for the increase in recycling of electronics. While all of our computer companies have made strides in reclemation and recycling; __HP is the only one to make a public pledge not to dump electronic waste in developing countries.__ Even with the voluntary compliance of some companies and the mandatory programs created in a few states they are guilty of sub-contracting to companies that are exposing inmates to toxic heavy metals and exporting hazardous wastes to developing countries. It is difficult without research into programs to be certain your electronics are being handled safely. Be careful with your waste programs.

Computer Component Toxic Metals:
Disk Drives: Nickel, Cobalt CRT Glass: Lead, Barium and Cadmium, Coatings, Vanadium, Yttrium Circuit Boards: Lead, Mercury, Beryllium, Cadmium Semiconductors: Gallium, Cadmium Steel Housing: Nickel, Chromium Connectors: Beryllium Ni-Cad Batteries: Nickel, Cadmium Wiring: Copper Switches: Mercury Plastic: Brominated Flame Retardants

All of these toxic metals pose health risks to humans and damage to the environment. Lead, cadmium, mercury and chromium, are all carcinogenic and not easily degraded. They must be handled with care and should not enter the environment; some chemicals are able to last longer and impose damage long after landfill contractors are stipulated to care for them. These are important concerns of **electronic waste**, as end of life technologies pile up and more advances are undertaken, these chemicals will have a lasting impact.

Impacts on Human Health and the Environment
<[]> Hazardous wastes contained, and referenced above, within computers and other technological devices may have detrimental effects upon human health and the environment. Some of the chemicals may compound within the body and in effect create higher levels as they move throughout the food chain; lead is an excellent example of one such chemical. Lead's chemical toxins have damaging effects on the brain and nervous system. Other chemicals are particularly hard on the cleaning organs of the body such as the liver and kidneys. Within the developing countries that often become the recipients of old electronics, the environmental concern is less than that of the countries that produce them. Often burning scrap metal that contains these chemicals causes serious air pollution that transcends borders. One such chemical, PVC's (Polyvinyl Chloride Plastics), causes respiratory illness and poses serious health risks to those with asthma. China has long been an importer of electronic wastes, even after it became a signatory of the Basel Convention banning such actions. These developing countries, that lack regulatory policy and enforcement, especially when it comes to the environment, have poor handling of electronics, often burning the electronics to smelt the metals and extract valuable materials like gold. These practices don't take place in a big factory that critics can point a finger at, but in people's back yards, dumping grounds, create massive pollution.

Recycling Efforts or Falsely Advertised Dumping?
According to USA Today, the recycling collections are often sold to brokers to be sent overseas so these people are able to make some kind of profit of the obselete items. Items collected at free events are sometimes destined for salvage yards in **//developing//** **//nations.//** People are affected by improper practices affecting those being poorly paid to extract these valuable materials. In some cases the overwhleming need for recycling efforts and proper disposal of electronics overwhelms the recyclers where pile up may take weeks to sort through. Recyclers in the United States do not need to be certified or even audited, efforts are often voluntary making it difficult for consumers to know if their electronics are really being handled in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. Thus the watchdog organization **Basel Action Network,** formed out of the United Nations Basel Convention, created the **E- Stewards** program for monitoring and approving those recycling centers who apply for the seal. Recycling through the electronic producers may be a good solution, as they are more likely to take precautions to protect their brand name.

This Video is presented by the E-Stewards programs, voicing the concerns of falsely advertised collection programs and the environmental impacts around the world. media type="youtube" key="qtT2EZ_d3Xk?fs=1" height="385" width="480"

Recycled Remarks
Overall, it is important for individuals to use the resources and opportunities at hand when handling their obsolete electronics. At the moment, some states have programs in place for recycling and handling the **hazardous materials** associated with electronic waste. These governmental sites will provide information on regulated businesses and collectors that handle old electronics and recycle them, not sell them as scrap to subcontractors overseas. Education of the public is necessary to reduce the impacts of electronic wastes as they are predicted to rise. Particularly as countries such as China expand their middle class consumerism with more electronics, e- waste will soon be a serious issue with no clear solution as how to tackle it. New solutions and efficiencies will need to be created so that more than 18% by weight of a computer can be reclaimed or recycled. Don't be fooled, just because a company may claim to help the environment and take back old electronics, much of it is hazardous waste that cannot be reused, will end up in landfills. Companies are out to make a profit, built in **obsolescence** and constant updates are part of a profitable plan. That new phone still makes calls just like the one before it. Hopefully, and some what ironically, new **green technologies** will be produced to tackle the problem at hand.

Refrences
Basel Action Network. E-Stewards Program [].

Basel Convention. < http://www.basel.int/>.

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"E-Waste Hazard in Developing Countries." //English Articles// (2010): n. pag. Web. 23 Nov 2010. []. =====

Jeffries, Elisabeth. "E- Wasted." //World Watch//. 19.4 (2006): Print.

MacDonald, Jeffrey. "Don't Recycle e-Waste with Haste, activists warn." //USA Today// 07 July 2008, Print.

"Responsible e-waste recycling: Basel Action Network E-Waste Film." //You Tube//. Web. 5 Dec 2010. .

United States. //FACT SHEET: MANAGEMENT OF ELECTRONIC WASTE IN THE UNITED STATES//. , 2008. Web. 5 Dec 2010. .

United States. //Review of Federal Prison Industries Electronic Waste Recycling Programs//. , 2010. Print.

Zeller, Tom. "A Program to Certify Electronic Waste Recycling Rivals an Industry-U.S. Plan ." //New York Times// 15 APR 2010, Print.

Further Pages
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