Recycle_and_Reuse

In today’s world we are dependent on computers and technology for our everyday lives. It’s such a big topic that people cannot live in our society without their use. However, there are numerous people, schools and businesses who negligently throw electronics away without thinking about the damage that it causes our planet. This is why we need to properly recycle our unused computers/electronics so organizations can rebuild and allow them to be reused, thus keeping them out of landfills and from becoming E-waste. “A 2001 EPA report stated that 70% of the heavy metals and 40% of the lead in U.S. landfills comes from high tech electronic products” (V. Hughes, Recycling E-Waste) Proper recycling of unused computers and parts would keep our landfills much smaller in size. This could potentially alleviate a lot of pollution problems. On top of that, donating the parts to organizations that rebuild and donate to the needy could give people hands on training that will help them understand proper usage and maintenance of their computers. This helps society give individuals jobs, gain more computers for the schools and others in need, and even become a cleaner city. The common argument against reuse of computers and parts is that people will be exposed to toxins that go into making these electronic parts, as cadmium, mercury, and lead. (Chris Fischer 2 Chen, Associated content) While this is true, there are protective ways to handle and rebuild recycled parts. Doing so eliminates the cons of recycling computer parts. There are government programs that strongly endorse the recycling process of electronics. The state of Montana has a program called “e-rase your e-waste!” (mt.gov) This program helps people find recycling sites near them and informs them about the importance of keeping e-waste out of landfills. It also helps explain the issue of E-waste and the specifics about its dangers. Basel Action Network, or “BAN” is an organization that works with the government to try to reduce the exportation of E-waste also known as “toxic trade” (Ban.org) This is a prime example of the programs we need advising our government on the issue of E-waste. In some parts of the world such exports are simply illegal. Other countries rely on it because it supposedly leaves that country with less waste. But what the countries aren’t thinking about is the pollution that will end up coming back to them. Countries need to be less naïve about this issue and need to properly recycle electronics. It is a fundamental right of all living things on this planet to live in a clean and safe environment. “It’s estimated that more than 350 million computers will become obsolete. E-waste is becoming the fastest-growing garbage stream in the industrialized world.” (Phil Kuhlenbeck , Austin Business Journal) these computers come from the people who are not recycling their computers and the companies that are making too many. Technology is always rapidly changing, and fast. What was new one month becomes old the next. Fischer 3 This is part of the problem of why so many computers are ending up in the trash instead of being recycled. Companies are creating too much of a certain technology that will soon be outdated and unwanted. And they are not always to blame. It would surely be difficult to determine exactly how many people are going to buy that certain product. “Another problem is that the materials used to make computers and displays can be harmful to the environment when they're sent to landfills, creating what's known as "e-waste."”(Phil Kuhlenbeck , Austin Business Journal) E-waste is defined as Electronic waste. It causes a lot of pollution in the air because of the chemicals gone into making them. Countries such as Ghana suffer greatly from the burning of these “E-wastes”. It is reported by Greenpeace that countries such as Germany, Korea, Switzerland, and the Netherlands are “donating” computers to Ghana, when all they are really doing is donating a few working computers in the same box as broken E-waste, thus forcing Ghana to take all or nothing. (Greenpeace.org) Although recycling of old unused technology is important and must be done, people should be aware of data recycling and the proper way to do it because it can be dangerous recycling hard drives. Because hard drives contain personal data (Passwords, emails, bank accounts, health info) it is vital that people understand proper hard drive nuking. According to a recent survey, 65% of executives are unaware of proper recycling of hard drives and may be jeopardizing worker records. HIPPA and The Gramm-Leach-Billey Act enforces penalties to companies who fail to protect workers information. (Phil Kuhlenbeck Austin Business Journal) Fischer 4 Companies such as Sony, Microsoft, Dell, and IBM, need to work on greener methods for their computer designs. It would reduce greenhouse gases and heavy metal pollution from the computers that do make it to the landfills. Lots of things about computers could be changed to reduce the toxins in them. Using LED’s for example instead of LCD’s in monitors could potentially save huge amounts of energy. Also, LED’s do not contain mercury, so it isn’t as harmful to the environment. (Cree.com) An example of a company that is finally keeping the environment in mind during its computer design process would be Apple. Apple seems to be very aware of the importance of computer recycling. They currently have a webpage that is all about recycling of their products. The newly released MacBook book was released with a complete “green” design. The new MacBook has an efficient power adapter that draws less energy from the walls thus reducing the greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. (Apple) The newly designed laptop also contains low power components that have less activity then a normal piece of hardware, and are BFR (Brominated flame retardants)-free, PVC-free, lead-free, mercury-free, and arsenic-free. (Apple) The laptop is built with a LED display resulting in no mercury, as explained earlier. Not only is the computer free of these toxins but Apple also sees that they are manufactured by machinery free of these toxins as well. However, it isn’t just the hardware that can be responsible for the computer’s energy consumption. It could also be the software that tells the hardware to remain on. This is why the MacBook was designed to have advanced power management Fischer 5 (Apple). Advanced power management assures that the computer is programmed to save as much energy as possible when the energy is unneeded, i.e. people leaving the room and the laptop is still on. The advanced power management will put the computer to sleep for the user or simply dim the screen if the user is idle. The amount of energy saved in the long run is extremely beneficial to the environment. While Apple seems to be the most successful company with keeping their electronic products green and effective, more electronic companies are adapting by using greener batteries such as lithium-polymer batteries. Lithium-polymer batteries are a great way to save energy, because they are renewable. They have a 7 hour life span and last up to 1000 charges (Apple). Even after the 1000 charges they’re fully recyclable unlike regular AA or AAA batteries. This has much less of an impact on the environment than replacing the batteries with new ones immediately after their drainage. People argue that going green just makes the product more expensive. While this is probably true, a counter argument would be that the product being green will save money in the long run for the buyer. If the buyer can recharge the battery numerous times for 5 years, the buyer will not have to spend any money on new batteries for a long period of time. Our everyday lives are dependent on computers, and electronics but also our planet. We need to properly recycle our unused computers/electronics to keep them out of landfills, and encourage companies to develop safer greener products that aren’t built Fischer 6 with the toxins that create E-waste. Doing so will help reduce our pollution levels greatly. Our right to live in a healthy environment cannot be infringed. Fischer 7 Works Cited Kuhlenbeck, Phil. "Law holds businesses responsible for disposal of computers." Austin Business Journal (June 2009): 1. South Florida Business Journals. Web. 18 Mar. 2010. . "Poisoning the poor – Electronic Waste in Ghana." GreenPeace. N.p., Mar. 2010. Web. 18 Mar. 2010. . Hughes, V. "Recycling E-Waste (Computers, Cell Phones, TVs)." Associated Content (Aug. 2007): 1-2. Web. 18 Mar. 2010. . Hansen, Monica. "2." Cree. N.p., 8 Dec. 2009. Web. 18 Mar. 2010. . Chen, Chris. "Pros and Cons of Reuse." Associated Content (Jan. 2010): 1. Web. 18 Mar. 2010. . Chase, Kate J. "Recycling Computers Prevents Toxic Metals From Filling Landfills." Associated Content (Jan. 2006): 1-2. Web. 18 Mar. 2010. . Fischer 8 "e-rase your e-waste!" Montana Department of Evironmental Quality (DEQ). Montana Gov, Mar. 2010. Web. 18 Mar. 2010. . "Basel Action Network (BAN)." Basel Action Network (BAN). N.p., 2008. Web. 18 Mar. 2010. . "MacBook and the Evironment." Apple. Macintosh, Mar. 2010. Web. 18 Mar. 2010. .