It is the scraps left behind from electronic devices.
So what? We throw away lots of stuff. What makes e-waste so controversial?
WELL unlike normal trash, e-waste is thoughtlessly discarded toxic equipment. In the U.S. this adds up to about 400 millions units of scrapped electronics quickly filling our landfills and releasing chemicals into the air. The dangers? These materials contain lead, mercury, and cadmium. Those are TOXIC.
And you know what's crazy? Most of these products aren't even broken. We throw them away as soon as the next coolest gadget comes out.
Is that the only problem associated with e-waste?
Of course not! Other issues include the dangers of manufacturing these products. The workers are exposed to chemicals and flame retardants that are very detrimental to human health and have been shown to cause miscarriages and cancer.
Any more problems? You bet.
Only 25% of e-waste gets "recycled". Why the quotations marks around "recycled"? Because usually big companies don't want to spend money to properly reuse the material. So instead, they "recycle" by shipping tons of waste off to other countries, usually in developing areas, to be dismantled and burned under horrific conditions for the workers.
The other 75% adds to landfills all ready plaguing the environment, OR they get burned, which releases chemicals into the air and groundwater.
Here is a table for your viewing discomfort:
Are there any GOOD companies out there?
Why, yes! There are some green companies that value the health for the environment and their workers.
1) Hewlett-Packard
http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/fortune/0703/gallery.green_giants.fortune/10.html
HP owns massive e-waste recycling plants, designed to extract harmful chemicals to be disposed of, and to extract reusable parts.
"HP will take back any brand of equipment; its own machines are 100 percent recyclable. It has promised to cut energy consumption by 20 percent by 2010. HP also audits its top suppliers for eco-friendliness, and its omnibus Global Citizenship Report sets the standard for detailed environmental accountability." --Oliver Ryan
2) Nokia
"Our product creation is guided by life cycle thinking. It helps us continuously improve the environmental aspects of our products and processes in each phase of the product life cycle, from raw material acquisition till the end of life of the product." -Nokia.com
Nokia promotes donating, selling, and reusing their technologies. They also strive to combine technologies (phone, camera, music players) into one device so consumers don't need multiple electronics.
They are innovators in the development and use of bio-plastics, bio paints, recycled metals and recycled plastics.
3) Waste to Green
Certified Computer Recycle Center Providing E-Waste, IT Asset Management & Data Destruction Services
They have pick up and drop off services and promote common knowledge and understanding of e-waste and its damaging effects on the environment. They help consumers recycle and live greener with technology.
What YOU can do to help!
-spread the word: share the issues of e-waste with your friends, school, and online. If more people know about the problems, the more people will help stop them
-make it last: you don't REALLY need every new gadget as it comes out. Get the most use out of your electronics and try to only upgrade if your current device is broken
-recycle: if you really need to get rid of an electronic device, first decide whether selling is a good option. If your device is still functional and in good condition, odds are someone will want it. Making the device last longer is a good way to keep it out of a landfill. If it is definitely the device's time to go, contact you local e-waste management center and ask about recycle services. Make sure it gets into the right hands at a reputable handler.
-buy smart: try to purchase electronics (and all everyday products preferably) from companies you know and trust have clean manufacturing methods that are safe for the environment and the workers.
