Properly Disposing of Electronic Waste



Posted: Thursday, April 16, 2009

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Prior to buying a television, CD player, or cell phone, do you contemplate about what to do with them when they break down or need to be replaced? Three million tons of e-waste (commodity and electronic waste) are produced by consumer electronics due to the discarding of faulty, impaired, and superseded devices. Let's see how e-waste affects your health and the environment, and what happens to it when it is discarded.

Due to spotty enforcement of e-waste export laws and the difficulties and cost in recycling electronics, huge amounts of used electronics have been shipped to China, Kenya, and India. Relaxed ecological requirements and job conditions make e-waste disposal more lucrative, but also more dangerous in those nations. Be careful of e-waste. Facilities exist that specialize in handling this dangerous material properly.

As long as electronics are appropriately handled, e-waste is a worthwhile supplier of secondary raw fabricated goods. When these items are mistreated, they become a major contributor of toxins and carcinogens. A major global problem has developed as a result of rapid technological change, low initial costs, and intentionally planned obsolescence. The haphazard disposal, uncontrolled burning, and disassembly without safety measures are all contributing to problems in the environment and human health.

The left over waste from consumer electronics consists of lead, cadmium, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and mercury. Studies have shown these items are extremely toxic and contain PCBs that can cause cancer. When not disposed of properly, they eventually get into the food chain through soil and water contamination. Toxic fumes are given off when they are burned, causing ozone depletion and also health concerns from inhalation. Mercury, lead, and cadmium damage cells and cause renal failure by attacking the central nervous system.

Remember this from now on whenever you are carelessly trashing dead batteries or an obsolete electronic device. Disposing of items the proper way through an e-waste recycler can help our environment be saved. Due to the problems caused to our environment and our health, the disposal process of consumer electronics needs to be carefully thought out.

About the Author:
As a home theater installer, Vic Metten knows that using Quality hdmi cables assures optimal picture quality for HD TVs. When installing surround sound, Vic always uses Buy hdmi cable to guarantee the clear, crisp sound one would expect from the home theater experience.
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