Recycling

This document is intended to inform and spread awareness of an easily avoidable environmental hazard that is quickly becoming a problem for our environment. Electronic waste, also known as E-waste, are equipment that are no longer usable or wanted but just get thrown away rather than recycled. E-waste is accumulating at a frightening pace as the demands for new technology are always increasing and product lifespans continue to decrease. E-Waste only represents 2% of the trash in United States landfills, however it equates to 70% of the overall toxic waste. From the 50 million tons of the E-waste generated each year, only about 10% will be recycled, this is very unfortunate because many computers, batteries, and other electronic devices contain hazardous materials such as cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, PVC plastic and brominated flame retardant. Computers or television displays (CRTs) contain an average of 6 pounds of lead each, constituting 40% of all lead and 70% of all heavy metals found in landfills. It does not take much lead or mercury to easily contaminate an area’s soil or water supply. Lead can cause damage to the central and peripheral nervous systems, blood system and kidneys in humans. More unfortunate news is about 80% of America's E-waste is exported to Asia, and several 3rd world countries, where scavengers burn these electronics to extract gold, copper, and other valuables. China, Brazil, and Mexico are facing a large rise in environmental and health damage from e-waste, and its’ burning. This burning releases a massive amounts of toxins into the air, that spreads far and wide poisoning a large amount of the environment with lead and aerosolized chemicals. Put simply, it is in your best interest, as well as everyone else's best interest, that you recycle your electronic goods that you no longer intend to use. Today, when an electronic item breaks, it is often perceived to be more cost-effective to discard it and replace it with a new, more modern item instead of having it repaired. With technology always increasing, this trend will only be more of a problem unless we do something about it now. If we fail to do so we may end up in landfills of E-waste. Recycling is not very difficult, only taking slightly more effort than using your trash can. Most electronics manufacturers have trade-in programs, so that you can trade in your old devices, computers, and monitors to purchase another device from them at a reduced price, PC makers Dell, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard, and IBM, for example, all have mail-back programs. At your local Best Buy you can bring in gently used electronics and trade for a best buy gift card, and is happy to recycle those that they will not accept. They also have special recycling kiosks where u can deposit ink cartridges, battery, and CD/DVDs. For CTR's and tube TV's under 32' they do charge a small fee of 10 dollars but refunds it immediately in the form of a gift card, for those greater than 32' and large appliances they have a free haul away program where they haul away your large waste and have it properly recycled. If one doesn't live close to a best buy or other major electronics dealer, you can search on line, or use www.gcycle.org to locate a place in your local area that will accept your electronic goods. In-fact your employer might have a recycling program to which you can recycle yours and your friends electronic goods. Works cited http://www.gcycle.org/ http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100222081911.htm http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/electronics/whatisewaste/ http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jan/09/home/la-hm-ewaste9-2010jan09 http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp'A=2714&Q=397480 http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10457390-54.html http://www.iowadnr.gov/waste/recycling/ewaste.html