ELECTRONIC WASTE Electronic waste, or…

                               ELECTRONIC WASTE

Electronic waste, or e-waste, is the inevitable by-product of a technological revolution.
Driven primarily by faster, smaller and cheaper microchip technology, society is
experiencing an evolution in the capability of electronic appliances and personal
electronics. For all its benefits, innovation brings with it the byproduct of rapid
obsolescence.

According to the EPA, nationally, an estimated 5 to 7 million tons of computers,
televisions, stereos, cell phones, electronic appliances and toys, and other electronic
gadgets become obsolete every year. According to various reports, electronics
comprise approximately 1 ­ 4 percent of the municipal solid waste stream. The
electronic waste problem will continue to grow at an accelerated rate.

Electronic, or e-waste, refers to electronic products being discarded by consumers.
These include:

   ·   Televisions and computer monitors
   ·   Computers and computer peripherals
   ·   Audio and stereo equipment
   ·   VCRs and DVD players
   ·   Telephones, cellular phones and other wireless devices

Computer monitors and older television picture tubes contain an average of four pounds
of lead. In addition to lead, electronics can contain chromium, cadmium, mercury,
beryllium, nickel, and zinc. When electronics are not disposed of or recycled properly,
these toxic materials can present problems. Safely recycling outdated electronics can
promote the safe management of hazardous components and allows for the recovery
and reuse of valuable materials.


LEGISLATION ON ELECTRONIC WASTE

More and more states are drafting legislation for the environment-friendly disposal of
electronic waste. States have begun to address the e-waste problem by taking steps to
ban cathode ray tubes (CRTs) from landfills, imposing fees to fund recycling programs
and having state agencies study ways to reduce the amount of waste.

One model to the e-waste problem is to impose a fee on new electronic equipment that
is used to fund recycling programs. Another option to the growth of e-waste is to require
manufacturers to develop and fund programs to collect and recycle the devices they
make. The benefit of this type of legislation is it makes manufacturers more responsible
for coming up with a solution to the e-waste problem by making more environmentally
friendly products.