Electronic Waste

By:Brenna Zaplatynsky, Sylwia Dutka, Hannah Blackwell, Katey Bergstrom

Introduction Electronic waste describes electrical or electronic

devices being discarded. Many electronic have harmful chemicals in them such

as beryllium, cadmium and lead, that may cause serious health and pollution problems.

Many developed countries export their E-waste to undeveloped

countries where they are less able to process the waste.

At least half of the E-waste in America is disposed of in this way.

A boy in Ghana burning wires to get to the copper and aluminum inside.

Human ImpactElectronics were made by humans, and we dispose of

them improperly.Many people aren't aware that electronics can be recycled

or how to otherwise dispose of them

A man in an Asian electronic garbage dump

Our increasing dependence on electronics is taking its toll on the environment it is our responsibility to fix it.

However no one is taking the initiative to combat this problem, and many aren’t aware that there is a problem.

Without human influence, the situation cannot change.

Solution 1Solution 1 Limit the amount of hazardous materials in electronics Limit the amount of hazardous materials in electronics

such as cadmium, lead, mercury and hexavalent such as cadmium, lead, mercury and hexavalent chromium.chromium.

Pass laws that restrict the amount of hazardous Pass laws that restrict the amount of hazardous materials that are allowed in electronics, such as the materials that are allowed in electronics, such as the Electronic Waste Recycling Act of California.Electronic Waste Recycling Act of California.

Computer monitor shells lying in Agbogbloshie, Ghana

• A problem that might result would be that the electronics wouldn’t work as well without the hazardous materials.•An advantage of this solution would be that less hazardous materials would be produced and discarded.

SolutionSolution 2 2

Recycle electronics instead of throwing them away.Recycle electronics instead of throwing them away. Electronics can be recycled at most electronics stores.Electronics can be recycled at most electronics stores. When electronics are sent to recycling facilities they are When electronics are sent to recycling facilities they are

disposed of properly, the hazardous materials in the disposed of properly, the hazardous materials in the electronic are taken out and not exposed to the electronic are taken out and not exposed to the environment.environment.

A disadvantage of this is that people don’t know that A disadvantage of this is that people don’t know that electronics can be recycled or care enough to bring their electronics can be recycled or care enough to bring their electronics to the necessary places.electronics to the necessary places.

An advantage would be that the hazardous materials in An advantage would be that the hazardous materials in the electronics wouldn’t leach into the environment.the electronics wouldn’t leach into the environment.

The Best Solution The best solution would be a combination of the two. It would be best if electronics didn't have hazardous

materials or used less of them. Less of these materials

would be produced, thus less of them of having

a chance of leaching in to the environment. It would also be good if they were recycled.

The materials in the electronics could be

reused. Reusing materials uses less energy and

money than producing more. Thus it is cheaper

and environmentally efficient. If we do not resolve in this way the E-waste will

continue to build to larger amounts and intoxicate the environment to higher levels.

A pile of E-waste in Agbogbloshie, Ghana.