Did you know that, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. citizens disposed of 41.1 million computers and 31.9 million computer monitors in 2007? Or did you know that in 2006 alone the United States manufactured 34 million televisions, 24 million computers and 139 million phones and pagers? Odds are that you didn’t, and that is OK because almost no one knows anything about this growing phenomenon known as electronic waste.
Electronic waste, termed as any type of electronic that has reached the end of its usable life, currently accounts for 5 percent of all municipal solid waste in the United States according to the United Nations. This electronic waste may be disposed of for various reasons including newer technologies or inability to function, but whatever the reason, this waste must be taken care of. According to a 2007 EPA Study, only about 18 percent of electronic waste is recycled. So what then is happening to the rest of the un-recycled electronic waste one might logically ask? Well the answer is that e-waste that is not properly recycled is either sent to landfills or trash incinerators. Both are poor solutions due to the makeup of electronics, which contain many toxins, heavy metals and plastics. If you put the toxins, heavy metals and plastics from electronics into the ground, water, or air via landfills and incinerators, they harm the environment and in turn human health. How then can these harmful effects be ameliorated?
Recycling and reuse serve as the answers to the environmental impact caused by electronics dumping. Recycling entails the taking apart of various electronics to safely dispose of their many toxins and to recycle valuable parts such as metals, glass and plastics.
All toxins are safely disposed of in toxic waste facilities, while valuable materials are refined or melted down to be reused in future electronics or goods. Recycling is the best solution for two reasons: it’s good for the environment and it’s good for the economy.
Environmentally speaking, harmful toxins are kept out of the environment, and because materials like metals and plastics can be reused, no greenhouse gasses need be emitted to extract new resources.
Economically speaking, electronic recycling plants and companies create jobs, and if valuable materials can be reused, then the money that would be spent to extract more resources can be sent elsewhere. Another viable option along with recycling is reuse. Many people throw away old phones after a year because they get a free upgrade or discard old computers because of new technology updates. According to dosomething.org, the average computer is only used for two years before being discarded. Used phones, computers and MP3’s can be reused through donation or sale; just because they are old doesn’t mean they don’t work. Reuse is an effective method to keep electronics out of the waste stream during their usable life.
Though all the facts and explanations are important, the most important thing is doing something about the problem. Electronic waste is a serious environmental threat and citizens around the globe need to take action.
The three major things to do are research, recycle/reuse and to be a conscious consumer. For existing electronics there are recycling programs throughout the United States that will pick up large electronics like computers and televisions, and also companies that you can send your phones, MP3s, and other personal electronics. Make sure to research thoroughly the recycling programs, however, as many simply send electronics to overseas landfills. If electronics still work, donate or sell them so that someone else may use them. When looking for new electronics, educated purchasing will go a long way towards cutting down on electronic waste.
Many companies are beginning to design their products to be easily taken apart and therefore easily recyclable, while others have created “take back” programs where they insure they will take back any product you buy from them and properly recycle it.
As technology becomes increasingly important in America, so to will the need to treat the electronic waste created. Dumping into landfills and burning in incinerators are not the answers as our environment and health will take a beating. We must look for more “green” electronics as well as looking to safely dispose of existing electronics through recycling and reuse.
For more information regarding electronic waste, recycling, and green purchasing guidelines visit:
EPA eCyling: www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/ecycling/index.htm
The United Nations Environmental Program Report: www.unep.org/PDF/PressReleases/E-Waste_publication_screen_FINALVERSION-sml.pdf
The Wake Forest University Office Of Sustainability: sustainability.wfu.edu