Electronic Waste

May 01, 2009-Karla Solo

05/06/09 Electronic Waste Karla solo

E-Waste

Who gets the trash?

Why is e-waste bad?

Solution

What is that?


What is that?

• E-Waste for short - or Waste Electrical and Electronic

Equipment (WEEE) - is the term used to describe old, end-of-

life or discarded appliances using electricity.

• E-waste is a loose category of surplus, obsolete, broken, or

discarded electrical or electronic devices

• Because this equipment (computer, Handphone) rapidly goes

out of date, modern countries are generating millions of tons

of E-waste annually.


• Electronic waste dumped in residential area just outside of Alaba market in

Lagos. This e-waste is routinely burned here.

Back

http://www.ban.org/banreports/10-24-05/photos.htm


Why is e-waste bad for the environment?

• Electronic equipment contains hazardous materials such as lead,

mercury and brominated flame retardants.

• Circuit boards contain heavy metals that leach out into the

environment and affect our public health and natural resources, but

when recycled, can help manufacture new electronics.


Environment Aspect Health Aspect

Politic Aspect International Aspect


Environment Aspect

• Electronic goods contain toxic chemicals such as lead and mercury. When

disposed of improperly, the toxins could leach into the environment

• How: • (1.) Do not dispose of your old TV, or other electronics with your regular trash.

Bring it to your local electronics-recycling center.

• (2.) If you're buying a new computer, see if the store has a trade-in offer. Many

companies will recycle your old computer and give you a discount toward buying

a new one.

• (3.) Donate your old cell phone. Some charities provide people in need with free

refurbished phones to use during emergencies.

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Health Aspect

• Some e-waste contains heavy metals that can be harmful to humans.

• Example:

1. Cell phone batteries contain a chemical called cadmium that can cause

damage to kidneys.

2. Some computer monitors contain lead, which can cause brain damage.

3. Flat TV screens are made with mercury, which may cause injury to the

nervous system. The nervous system, which includes the brain, spinal cord,

and nerves, controls body activities.

4. Those metals may also leak toxins into the ground or give off pollutants

when burned.

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Politic Aspect

• Hard drive: Some of the most popular destinations for dumping computer

hardware include China, India, and Nigeria. It can be 10 times cheaper for a

"recycler" to ship waste to China than to dispose of it properly at home.

• Hazardous waste: Lead, mercury, and cadmium are a computer's most

common toxic substances. When melted down, the machines release even

more toxins into the air, ground, and water.

• A living wage: Although developing countries occasionally attempt to ban e-

waste, the shipments can be vital to local economies.

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International Aspect

• Strengthening European Union policies on electronic and chemical waste will reverberate

around the world, according to two academic experts examining the issue. Stacy Van

Deveer and Henrik Selin said that three strict EU policies would influence markets, the

environment, and regulations worldwide.

• In the last five years, the European Union developed and adopted major e-waste directives,

which members are beginning to implement this year. They require electronics

manufacturers to offer free disposal of consumers' used equipment and prohibit the export

of hazardous waste to developing countries for disposal.

• A more recent rule requires registration, evaluation, and authorization of more than 30,000

chemical substances. The rules put the European Union in the global lead in terms of

protecting consumers and the environment.


E-waste is the fastest growing portion of the waste stream in the United States - It grew by almost 8% from 2004 to 2005, even though the overall municipal waste stream volume

is declining

Example:

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Who gets the trash?

• Karashi

• Singapore

• Nanhai

• Ahmedabad

• Mumbai

• Madras

Back


The Solutions• Reduce• Be a responsible shopper, and take care of your electronics so they will last

longer.

• Reuse

• Although the benefits of reusing electronics in this way are clear, the practice is causing serious problems because the old products are dumped after a short period of use in areas that are unlikely to have hazardous waste facilities.

• Recycle• To find a responsible recyclers, contact a local or state environmental group.


BibliographyChiang, Mona. "Take action: go green: here are some simple things that you can do to help save the

environment." Science World 63.13 (April 16, 2007): 18(2). Student Edition. Gale. London District Catholic School

Board. 5 May 2009

<http://find.galegroup.com/itx/start.do?prodId=STOM>

"Heavy metal: trashed technology is turning into a high-tech hazard." Weekly Reader, Senior Edition (including Science

Spin) 84.23 (April 21, 2006): 7(1). Student Edition. Gale. London District Catholic School Board. 5 May 2009


http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://disposalsource.com/images/chart.jpg&imgrefurl=http://

disposalsource.com/industry-news.html&usg=__hCtSZ-

4khH13wQSDVs2ijOncHiY=&h=300&w=383&sz=66&hl=en&start=12&um=1&tbnid=bOJ9ZFlvUyUazM:&tbnh

=96&tbnw=123&prev=/images%3Fq%3De%2Bwaste%2Blandfills%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1

Behring, Natalie. "Inside the digital dump: technology drives the forces of globalization. But when we replace our

computers and flat-screens with the newest in high-tech cool, what happens to the hardware we throw away?

Welcome to the digital dumping ground, where the poor make a living off other people's spare parts.(Wide Angle)

(Brief article)." Foreign Policy 160 (May-June 2007): 74(6). Student Edition. Gale. London District Catholic School

Board. 5 May 2009


http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/toxic/electronics/where-does-waste-end-up

Electronic Waste

Education

Transcript of Electronic Waste