Electronic Waste:

What happens to our electronic equipment later?

Video showing e-waste in China.

What is electronic waste?

Televisions, Computer equipment, Stereo equipment, VCR/DVD players, Video equipment, Telephones, Cell phones,

Wireless devices, Fax/Copy machines, mp3 equipment,

video game consoles.

Why is it a concern?• The amount of e-waste is increasing 2-3 times

faster than any other type of waste.• E-waste contains many hazardous materials

including:– Lead– Cadmium– Mercury– Hexavalent Chromium– Plastics– Brominated flame retardants– Barium– Beryllium

Lead damages the brain and

nervous systems, blood systems,

kidney and reproductive

systems.

Lead is found in computer monitors and solder in circuit

boards.

Cadmium accumulates in the kidneys and

damages filtering

processes.

Cadmium is found in chip

resistors, semiconductor chips and is a

plastic stabilizer.

Mercury damages many organs

including the brain and kidneys.

Mercury is found in sensors, relays,

switches, flat panel monitors and

batteries.

Hexavalent Chromium passes through cell

membranes and damages DNA.

Hexavalent Chromium is

used to prevent

corrosion.

Plastics (especially PVC) produce dioxin (a

carcinogen) when burned.

Plastics are used in cabling and

computer housings.

Brominated flame retardants damage liver and reproductive cells.

Brominated flame retardants

are used in casings to

prevent flammability.

Barium damages the heart, liver and

other muscles.

Barium is used to shield

radiation from monitors.

Beryllium is carcinogenic (primarily causing lung cancer)

and causes skin diseases.

Beryllium is used to conduct electricity, in motherboards and to

strengthen connectors.

Where does most of our e-waste eventually go?

• E-waste is banned in most of Europe and the U.S.

• Most of it is being shipped to developing countries where poor residents (adults and children) separate the materials in order to sell back metals.

• Video in India.• Much of our electronic equipment is not made

in the U.S. Working conditions elsewhere provide little protection to the employees.

• Video in Mexico.

What happens with our e-waste?

• In 2002, the European Union began requiring manufacturers to pay the entire cost of recycling the electronic equipment they produce.

• This is not required in the U.S. Only 6% of electronic equipment in the U.S. is recycled.

• Americans dispose of millions of tons of e-waste every year (eventually ending up in foreign dumps or U.S. landfills).

What can we do with our e-waste?• For electronic equipment that is still working and

less than 5 years old, donate this equipment! • For older or non-working electronic equipment,

responsibly recycle this equipment. There are certified recyclers in the U.S. Typically it costs $20 - $50 to recycle electronic equipment.

• Support the Basel Convention – a treaty signed by every developed country except for the U.S. – This treaty regulates the movement of hazardous waste across international borders. The goal is to limit the dumping of hazardous waste from wealthier countries into poorer countries.