Ever wonder about where all those cellphones, computers, digital cameras and whatever other electronics we deem obsolete after a few years end up? According to Do Something, electronic waste represents 2% of America’s trash in landfills, but it equals 70% of its overall toxic waste. Toxic waste is defined as waste material that can cause death, injury or birth defects to living creatures. What are the effects of e-waste that we should be concerned about?
Why E-Waste is Concerning
Aside from disposing of all types of waste responsibly for environmental factors, e-waste has incredibly important health factors to require responsible disposal. According to E-Stewards, E-waste contains very toxic substances like mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, beryllium and brominated flame retardants. If these chemicals are burned, they can create more toxins like halogenated dioxins and furans. Many of these are elements, which means that they will never decompose and disappear. These toxins are some of the most dangerous known to us and can lead to cancer, reproductive disorders, endocrine disruption and other problems. They are a danger to ecosystems and communities around the world.
This infographic shows just how detrimental these toxins can be on your health.
The Different Types of Consumer Recycling
There are many different ways to recycle these products ranging from donation to device reuse to using components in different devices. Donation to different organizations that use the electronics either through reuse or converting them into other or new devices is a great means of recycling these electronics and keeping them out of landfills. The other recycling type is a takeback program. Staples, Toshiba and Gateway are some companies that offer programs with monetary incentives for donating recyclable and/or working devices. By taking products back these companies can either dispose of them responsibly or reuse them. Unfortunately, several problems exist with these programs from limitations to brands accepted to limitations in amount taken due to limited recycling centers.
What is Happening in Europe?
Proper electronic waste management has been implemented in parts of Europe since the 1990s. Switzerland was the first country to implement an electronic waste recycling system in 1991 with the collection of old refrigerators. From there other companies joined and different electronics were included. The European Union has also implemented several directives and regulations that place responsibilities of recovering, reusing and recycling these products on the manufacturers.
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive) implemented a policy, the Extended Producer Responsibility, that makes equipment manufactures financially or physically responsible for their products at the end of their life. They state, “Users of electrical and electronic from private households should have the possibility of returning WEEE at least free of charge” WEEE Forum. The directive requires each country to recycle at least 4 kg of e-waste per capita each year.
What is Happening in the United States?
Recycling rate of e-waste in the United States is relatively low because we lack the recycling and regulatory infrastructure. There is no U.S. federal mandate to recycle electronic waste, but currently 35 states have or are considering e-waste recycling laws. According to the Electronics TakeBack Coalition the states with the highest e-waste recycling per capita are Minnesota (6.37), Oregon (6.31) and Washington (5.92). The highest amount in the US is half of the mandated amount in European countries.
This infographic shows just how little is being recycled with electronic devices.
US Legislation with E-Waste Management
Here are all of the Responsible Electronics Recycling bills proposed in states at this time.
On March 6th of this year Senator Sheldon Whitehouse introduced Responsible Electronics Recycling Act (RERA) of 2014 that will stop U.S. “recycling plants” from sending toxic electronic waste to developing countries and to promote recycling jobs in the United States. Read the article from Electronics TakeBack Coalition explaining the bill and its implications.
How Can We Make this Work in America?
After all of this, what works? How to do we possibly begin to recycle at a level safer for everyone? Convenience in collection helps increase the amount recycled. Laws need to be implemented that make it easier to dispose of devices that will contribute to e-waste. By creating more areas that can collect items, governmental, private and non-profits, there will be more recycling centers and different options promoting responsible disposal. Banning e-waste in landfills is also another incentive for people to recycle their devices.
Something needs to change in the United States to lead to more responsible disposal of electronic waste. Not only for the environment and health, but there are also monitory reasons. For every 1 million cell phones that are recycled, 35,274 lbs of copper, 772 lbs of silver, 75 lbs of gold, and 33 lbs of palladium can be recovered. Americans dump cell phones containing over $60 million in gold/silver every year. Hopefully we can take the necessary steps to help our people and land.
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