E-Waste

While there’s been some debate over the true definition of the term, e-waste is largely considered to be any broken or unwanted electrical or electronic device. And it’s the fastest growing component of the municipal worldwide waste stream, thanks to constantly upgrading electronics technology. The amount of discarded computers more than doubled from 1998 to 2005 alone (from 20 million to 47 million) and the EPA now estimates that America discards between 300 and 400 million electronic items per year. Because of the Epoxy resins, fiber glass, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and thermosetting plastics contained in e-waste it poses a valid threat when ultimately laid to rest in landfills, where it can leach its toxic components into groundwater and soil. Unfortunately, because e-waste is also filled with substances like lead, tin, copper, silicon, beryllium, carbon, iron, aluminum, cadmium and mercury it can’t be easily recycled either. Certain parts of e-waste may be not only useful for further purposes, however, but actually very valuable, but due to the toxic nature of the materials the process of removing such parts is an expensive one. In an effort to profit from the valuable components of e-waste, certain companies are now sending large amounts of e-waste to developing countries like China, India and Kenya, where environmental and working condition standards are considerably lower.

To process e-waste the used electronics are dismantled into various parts, primarily; metal frames, power supplies, circuit boards and plastics, which are later separated manually. In developed countries, sophisticated equipment separates metal and plastic fractions that are later sold to smelters and plastics recyclers, but in developing countries actual workers (often children who earn only a few dollars each day) take apart e-waste and are exposed to a host of toxic chemicals in the process.

Reuse-- where e-waste is reverted to a raw material form--is a growing trend in e-waste management, as it is in conventional recycling. Reuse reduces the demand for new products and this saves energy and non-renewable resources that are required for manufacturing processes.

When deciding what to do with your e-waste, there are a few things to look for, but you can start long before that. At the time of purchase, look into the recycling and take-back options available from the brand (or store) you’re considering; the take-back programs created by electronics companies are said to be some of the most legitimate because of the company image they must protect. If the brand of electronics you’re giving up doesn’t have a take-back program, spend a little time researching recycling options in your area, looking for completed voluntary certifications and companies that use “separated waste streams”.