Electronic Waste Recycling 101
Hidden Hazards of E-waste Threaten Human Health and Environment
Oct 11, 2007
When most people think of recycling, they picture green bins full of glass, newspapers and plastic milk jugs set out on the sidewalk for trash day. But old electronics devices also contain valuable materials that can be reclaimed--along with poisonous substances that should be kept away from people and out of the environment.
Toxic TVs
As technology advances, consumers want the latest and greatest electronics. As a result, more and more e-waste is generated every year. Hazardous materials are contained inside most consumer electronics, including:
- Computer CPUs and monitors
- Keyboards
- Power supplies
- Speakers
- TVs
- DVD and VHS players
- Cellphones
- Video game systems
- Printers
- Telephones
- Microwave ovens
- Toasters
- Pagers
- Surge Protectors
- Fax Machines
Color cathode ray tubes (CRTs), found in older TVs and computer monitors, contain several pounds of lead. The poisonous metal mercury is used in circuit boards. Other toxic materials found in electronics include chromium, cadmium, zinc, and brominated flame retardants.
What Happens to Old Electronics?
In 2005, the EPA estimated that:
- 45% of consumer electronics are stored or reused;
- 44% are sent to landfills or incinerators; and
- 11% are recycled.
When old electronics get thrown into the trash, the poisons inside them can leach into soil and groundwater through a landfill or be vaporized in an incinerator (see Turning Trash into Electricity). These contaminants damage human and animal nervous systems, and some are known to cause cancer.
Because consumer electronics contain valuable resources, such as copper, gold, glass and plastics, commercial recyclers collect them, sometimes for a fee. They may reuse some of the materials or resell them to others, including overseas recyclers.
What Standards Cover E-waste Recycling?
In July, 2006, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued an improved standard for recycling CRTs. Most states have passed or are developing laws for safe disposal of e-waste. However, no overall national standard for electronics waste recycling yet exists.
The international standards, ISO 9001:2001 and ISO 14001, cover electronics recycling plants. Unfortunately, the many workers at non-ISO certified plants, as well as the local environments, are not adequately protected from the toxic materials contained in the recycled electronics.
How Can Consumers Safely Dispose of Used Electronics?
As the problem of e-waste grows, consumers can support those manufacturers that are looking for ways to reduce its harmful effects. For example, Fujitsu now offers a biodegradable plastic laptop chassis, which can decompose in just a few months. As a bonus, the process of manufacturing this plastic creates fewer carbon emissions than for standard petroleum-based plastics.
Many electronics retailers provide "End-Of-Life" asset management services and trade-in programs, in which they agree to take back obsolete products. The major cellphone manufacturers now recycle both handsets and batteries. And many non-profit organizations and schools take working computers as donations.
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Sources
"E-Cycling Basic Information," U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Oct. 9, 2007.
ECycling Central website sponsored by the Electronic Industries Alliance.
"E-Waste: The Final Frontier," by Trey Granger, Earth 911 Blog, Oct. 11, 2007.
"Fujitsu Reveals Biodegradable Laptop," ZDNet.co.uk, Aug. 20, 2007.
MyGreenElectronics web site sponsored by the Consumer Electronics Association.
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