Electronic Waste. Chris Brooks Computing, Robots, and Python

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Winifred Blake
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1 Electronic Waste Chris Brooks Computing, Robots, and Python

2 Electronic Waste Modern electronics have a very short shelf life. There are over 200 million cell phones in the US. On average, they are replaced every 18 months. The US will switch over to HD in 2009, leading to 14 million televisions being replaced. Businesses replace their computers every 3-4 years; over 250 million in the next five years. So what happens to all of this?

On average, they are replaced every 18 months.

3 Electronic Waste Computers and other electronics, such as cell phones, ipods, CD players, and televisions contain a wide variety of materials Gold, silver, copper Reusable components such as transistors and integrated circuits Toxic materials such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and fire-retardant insulation Cancer-causing PCBs

copper Reusable components such as transistors and integrated circuits Toxic

4 Electronic Waste The U.S. has fairly strict laws about how electronics can be recycled or disposed of. Much on a state-by-state basis Recycling centers typically extract reusable components, or even shred circuit boards and appliances

5 Multi-stage recycling 1. Reusable components are extracted Memory, hard drives, power supplies 2. Dismantling - easily recycled components removed. Aluminum, copper wiring 3. Remaining components are scavenged. Low value, difficult or hazardous to extract.

supplies 2. Dismantling - easily recycled components removed.

6 e-waste Much e-waste cannot be economically recycled in the First World After stripping, remaining components are shipped to Nigeria, India, and China Labor is cheap, environmental standards are lax. Stripped for salvageable components Remaining pieces cast aside

Nigeria, India, and China Labor is cheap, environmental standards

7 Chinese worker using acid to extract gold from circuit boards

8 Chinese worker about to smash a cathode ray tube to remove copper.

9 Boy hauling waste in Lagos

10 Women picking through computer wires. Good ones are kept, bad ones are burned, releasing carcinogens

11 Greenpeace Video

12 Environmental Issues Lead or mercury may leach into the groundwater. Burning components may give off toxic fumes. Exposure to heavy metals can cause cancer, birth defects. Chemicals used in extraction of gold, silver are also harmful e.g. hydrochloric acid

Exposure to heavy metals can cause cancer, birth defects.

13 How does this happen? There is a large worldwide industry for scrap equipment Not well-regulated or located within a single country. Your computer might go to a recycler, who takes what can be reused and then sells the rest. This buyer might collect all of this, take what he/she can salvage, and then sell of the rest as well. At some point, the equipment is shipped to an overseas recycler. At this point, everything of value is stripped and the remainder is left in a landfill, or just on the side of the road.

Your computer might go to a recycler, who takes what can be reused and then sells the rest.

14 Globalization s Double-Edged Sword The ability to easily ship goods worldwide, coupled with inequalities in labor, makes this possible. This is a downside of globalization - we can ``externalize our environmental impact.'' (Diamond) On the other hand, globalization makes it possible to discover this, and to construct organizations that can change it. Information flows more easily

This is a downside of globalization - we can ``externalize our environmental impact.

15 What s Being Done About This Basel Convention An international treaty governing the shipment of hazardous waste, particularly to the developing world California: Electronic Waste Recycling Act Point-of-sale tax to subsidize recycling

waste, particularly to the developing world California:

16 Reduce Cut down on the purchase of new electronics There s also an environmental cost to building new electronics Metals extracted, plastics, paints Distribution Packaging

17 Reduce Select electronics that can be upgraded or are modular. I love Apple, but the imac has problems. Integrated monitor can t be reused. Components difficult to replace.

18 Reduce Select manufacturers who follow green standards. EnergyStar

19 Reuse Repair or upgrade your computer Donate Goodwill OTX West CRC.org Give to a friend or family member

20 Recycle Look for city-sponsored recycling programs Some vendors will take back replaced electronics Cell phones, ipods, etc.

21 Engage Encourage your legislators to support the Basel Convention. Support state legislation to encourage e- waste recycling. Unfortunately, federal legislation is far away

22 Resources SF Goodwill - SF Computer Recycling Center noewaste.com

23 Summary The rapid improvement and obscolescence of technology has a down side; the rapid proliferation of e-waste. Heavy metals, toxic materials end up in the developing world Complex web of markets are difficult to regulate. Reduce, reuse, recycle!

Environmentally Sound Management of E- waste: Emerging Issues, Challenges and Opportunities for Material Recovery and Recycling

Environmentally Sound Management of E- waste: Emerging Issues, Challenges and Opportunities for Material Recovery and Recycling Dr Sunil Herat Senior Lecturer in Waste Management & Project Leader Griffith