Recycling+Awareness

eWaste Recycling Awareness

James [|Delicious Pages] Ask to yourself: 1. What happens when an incredibly old computer is bust or not used? (Do you leave it, upgrade it, or dump it in the trash?) 2. Do you know where Electronic Waste ends up? 3. Do you know what e-Waste cause to our environment?

E-Waste is an issue that is gradually being known throughout the world. Mostly, Lower Economic Developing Countries has the e-Waste dumping issue, e.g. India, Africa and etc. Due to the fact, Higher Economic Developed Countries export their e-Waste to the LEDC. Great issues have been well known.

In cases, re-using or upgrading these electronics (constitutes direct second-hand use), is a useful method. After slight modifications are made to the original functioning equipment-memory upgrades, etc. can benefit users. However, when new technologies innovate, sooner or later, the electronics will still have to be dumped. In addition, second hand computers can still be in active service, a redundant computer can be recycled in many ways, an organization known as the European WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment). Ensures that disposing of redundant computers into a secluded place is against the law in Europe, so what do they do with the unwanted metal chunks? According to the cleverly named WEEE directive it is the manufacturer’s responsibility to organize and pay for the eWaste. Some companies such as Linux and Compaq send their products through a eWaste recycling process called refurbishing; sometimes this is done by a third-party company. Refurbishing consist of checking safety systems, reliability of the computer, cleaning of hard drives, installing of new components that seem redundant and upgrading memory. Once this process is done with the manufacturer resells it to a new and less particular user. When there is a financial issue sometimes the unwanted parts are dismantled and materials are reclaimed in order to make new products

For higher economic developed countries such as USA, they would not domestically recycle these electronic wastes. However, the developed countries will export their e-Waste to developing countries which leads into harm. This is due to that LEDC’s has a cheap labour cost (China $1.50 per day). In addition, environmental and occupational regulations are lax or not well enforced; and it is legal in the U.S, despite international law to the contrary, to allow export of hazardous E-waste with no controls whatsoever.

These LEDC’s laborer would burn the electronics, or melt and leave the gold behind. This sounds as if; this is not a great issue. Sadly, this is creating problems, affecting people’s lives throughout the world.

Whilst, burning these electronics product, it consists of: Lead – Cause damage to the central and peripheral nervous system, blood systems, kidney and reproductive system in humans. Cadmium - Cadmium compounds are toxic with a possible risk of irreversible effects on human health, and accumulate in the human body, particularly the kidneys. Mercury - Mercury can cause damage to various organs including the brain and kidneys, as well as the fetus. Most importantly, the developing fetus is highly susceptible through maternal exposure to mercury. Plastics (PVC) - Plastics make up 13.8 pounds of an average computer. The largest volume of plastics (26%) used in electronics has been poly-vinyl-chloride (PVC). PVC is mainly found in cabling and computer housings, although many computer moldings are now made with the somewhat more benign ABS plastics. PVC is used for its fire-retardant properties. As with many other chlorine-containing compounds, dioxin can be formed when PVC is burned within a certain temperature range.

Beryllium has recently been classified as a human carcinogen as exposure to it can cause lung cancer. The primary health concern is inhalation of beryllium dust, fume or mist. Workers who are constantly exposed to beryllium, even in small amounts, and who become sensitized to it can develop what is known as Chronic Beryllium Disease (beryllicosis), a disease which primarily affects the lungs.

From all the information’s and researches gathered above, we can describe that the e-Waste issue to be classified: urgent. After the burning and melting, the left over are left at the dump yard. The dump yards are normally near rivers. This leads to a large problem to our environment. The rivers become acidic and toxic, therefore leading to acid rains and water issues. Ultimately, governments are now urging all nations to place import/export controls on some e-waste due to their hazardous designation by various countries. The world will have to work together as a team, helping to reduce the e-waste down to the lowest percentage as possible, leading everyone to a better environment and health.

In the United States there are many recycling companies and it is considered as a high priority to minimize eWaste, it has become its own industry, the only issue is some recycling companies aren’t really reliable it is possible to send a computer to a recycling company and end up having the computer dumped illegally onto Chinese turf. A good way to recognize a reliable recycling agency is to ask questions about what happens to computers and components.

During 1990, e-waste recycling facility was implemented in switzerland. The process first started with the collecting and recyling of old refridgerators. Inevitably, other electronic products were able to be recycled in this facilities. A law passed during 1998, saying that all electronic waste could be returned to the producers for free(computer companies) to organise the e-waste and minimize the hazard.

It is considered illegal to dump e-waste in landfils and countries due to development of the awareness of e-waste, some countries like US has introduced a Electron Recycling Fee which comes with electronic products, the US has also considered passing bills into recycling of e-waste. The European Union, Japan and Taiwan consider that the producers of electronic products should be responsible for recycling