E waste nz

E-Waste

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Colton, Copper, Aluminium, Lead, Gold, Zinc, Nickel, Tin, Silver, Iron, Platinum, Palladium, Mercury, Cobalt, Antimony, Arsenic, Barium, Beryllium, Cadmium, Chromium, Selenium, Polyvinyl Chloride, Hexavalent Chromium, Brominated Flame Retardants, and Gallium

The ingredients of a typical

desktop, laptop or monitor

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E-Waste = Toxic Waste

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Material Main applications in computer production

Plastics including PVC

Cabling, computer housings

Lead Soldering of printed circuit boards and other components; glass panels in CRT monitors

Barium Vacuum tubes in CRT monitors

Beryllium Used for thermal conductivity

Cadmium SMD chip resistors, infrared detectors, semiconductors,older models of CRTs; also used as plastic stabilizer

Hexavalent Chromium

Mostly phased out, but still some limited use as corrosion protector and decorative or hardener for steel housings

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Materials Main application in computer productionSelenium Used in rectifiers and printed wiring boardsMercury Sensors and switches on printed circuit boards,

batteries, switches/housing, printed wiring boards, tubes in flat panel Screens

Arsenic Doping’ agents in transistors and printed wiring boards

PCBs (Polychlorinatedbiphenyls)

Used in capacitors and transformers (older equipmentonly)

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• Beryllium – Human carcinogen – cancer causing. Lung cancer and skin disease

• Hexavalent Chromium – Highly toxic material which can pass easily through cell membranes; causes strong allergic reaction (asthmatic, bronchitis) even in small concentrations. May also cause DNA damage

• Brominated flame retardants – Cause Thyroid Damage and harm fetal development

Environmental & Health Impacts

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Barium – Brain swelling, muscle weakness, damage to the heart, liver and spleenSelenium – Causes Selenosis, which symptoms are hair loss, nail brittleness and neurological abnormalities PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls) – PCBs affect the immune, hormone, nervous, and enzyme systems of the body and therefore have impacts on almost every organ. PCBs are considered by health agencies as a known carcinogen for animals and a probable carcinogen for humans

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• Lead – Damage to nervous system, blood. A neurotoxin. It also harms the kidneys and reproductive system. Even low-level lead exposure can impair a child’s mental development.

• Cadmium – Acute and Chronic toxic compound which accumulates in human body, esp. In kidneys. Can be absorbed either through respiration or ingested through food.

• Plastics (PVC) – Various cancers, endocrine system disruption. If burnt, releases highly toxic dioxins

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• Mercury – Causes Chronic brain damage. Easily accumulates in living organisms, esp. Fish. Also linked to Kidney damage and harmful to a developing fetus. It can be passed through breast milk. Inorganic mercury is transformed into methylated mercury when introduced into natural water systems, where it concentrates in sediment.

• Arsenic – Various diseases of the skin and decrease nerve conduction velocity. Can also cause lung cancer and can often be fatal.

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50 million tonnes of E-waste a year worldwide

Still over 85% unsafe disposal or landfill

A Global Problem

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New Zealand- In NZ, 2006 - 96,000 Tonnes of e-

waste sent to landfill- No Laws in NZ preventing e-waste to

landfill- Precious Metals Wasted: gold, silver,

platinum, copper

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• Estimated NZ stock 16 million units (10 million CRT’s) that will become end of life & enter waste stream

• In 2005, 830,000 new televisions and computers were sold in NZ

• Total lead that may reach the waste stream = 13,540 tonnes

New Zealand

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Do we want to be remembered as the

generation that destroyed the environment for our

descendants?

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• EU WEEE - Waste and Electronic Equipment Directive

• EU RoHS – Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive

• Basel Convention

Global Legislation – What’s been done about it?

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www.transend.co.nz | 0800 84 22 53 | info@transend.co.nz

• NZ needs to develop own “in-country” capability to deal with E-Waste• Strict adherence to Basel Permits needs to be followed and policed• NZ should hurry up and introduce producer responsibility laws

What does NZ need to do?

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What should consumers do?

• Buy RoHS compliant equipment • Storage (Keep it in your garage for now)• Wait for E-Day 2010 (If it happens!)

• Drop-off at recycling centre and be willing to pay for proper recycling – about $30 per computer

“Never send to Landfill and start asking your recycling

company for proof of environmentally sound

destruction”