Definition of e-waste:
Electronic products have reached the end of quality and are no longer able to be used, so users toss it out. Recycle, reuse, and reduce still applies to computers, cell phones, and other products (not just plastic items).
We’ve all seen those flyers or banners that say where to drop off old, broken computers, cell phones, or decade old game controllers that are no good. If you take a walk in your neighborhood, you’ve probably seen old, dusty printers laying in front of houses or sometimes refrigerators. I’ve seen trucks come by and pick it up. I learned that the people that come to pick up electronics that are left outside actually sell it to consumers like on websites.
The word “free” recycling actually catches most people because they don’t want to bother dropping it off at a local recycling center and instead depend on their neighbors to come pick it up or wait until someone picks it up.
Fact of the day: E waste is taken to many dumping areas where it is set on fire or burned and when these products are heated up, toxic chemicals are released into the air which harms the atmosphere.
What’s the problem?
Here are some facts about why electronics are harmful to our environment.
- Lead, zinc, nickel, barium, and chromium are toxic substances that are found in computers which then are broken down at landfills. These chemicals leak hazardous substances into the soil, air, and land.
- 2% of America’s trash in landfills is made up of electronic waste equalling 70% of waste that is considered toxic.
- Annually, cell phones worth up to $60 million like gold and silver phones are dumped into the ocean.
- Many electronic products are labeled as “e-waste”, but many of the parts in computers, printers, cell phones, and keyboards are actually marketable or able to be recovered.
- As of 2018, the national average recycling rate is 34.7%.
- The U.S. alone throws away 9.4 million tons of electronics and produces more e-waste when compared to other countries.
- 85% of Americans are not aware of electronic recycling or aren’t aware that the world produced 44 million tons of e-waste in total of 2017.
The Heart of e-waste
According to Apple’s environmental sustainable report, “77% of the carbon footprint of their electronics come from their manufacture versus the 17% that comes from its actual use.
- According to a survey conducted by ecoATM Gazelle, 25% of Americans actually recycle and 33% do not. Yanyan Ji, SVP Marketing and GM, e-Commerce at ecoATM Gazelle said, “There is still a general lack of awareness around e-waste and the negative impact that consumer electronic purchasing and recycling decisions are having on our environment.
- According to the United Nations University, “e-waste” is dumped in many under-developed countries like in Lahore, Pakistan. Many e-waste is set on fire to burn off the rubber like in chords so that the workers who make $2.50 a day can separate the valuable materials such as lead, silver, and copper.
- E waste is actually shipped to developing countries where many before the age of 20 die of cancer, vulnerability to fire flames, and harmful toxins that come out of the products.
- The Basel Convention, an international treaty ensures to prohibit other countries from dumping their e waste into less developed countries.
Effects of e-waste in countries
India receives the second most e-waste every year. Loni and Mandoli are regions that are full of soil that is contaminated in high levels of metals like lead from products like computers. Furthermore, bodies of water in those regions are also contaminated by heavy metals like mercury. A study performed by Toxics link found that Mandoli had 710 times the regular amount in a water sample.
Overall, to have a less impact on the dilemma of e-waste, we must play our role of extending the quality of our devices by taking good care and maintaining it.
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