E-waste Disposal Nicho Ocampo

E-waste E-waste is just all the electronic devices that we can’t just throw away in the trash, and they need to be disposed of in a specific way so they don’t cause a threat to the environment and people. E-waste is just all the electronic devices that we can’t just throw away in the trash, and they need to be disposed of in a specific way so they don’t cause a threat to the environment and people.

Growing Problem One of the main problems that creates all the e-waste, is that technology is always changing, so people feel the need to keep buying the newest technology. So then they just get rid of their old computer or cell phone. In the U.S., in heavy metal landfills, about 70% of that is made up of e-waste, and in 2005, the total amount of unwanted electronics was over 2 million tons of e-waste. One of the main problems that creates all the e-waste, is that technology is always changing, so people feel the need to keep buying the newest technology. So then they just get rid of their old computer or cell phone. In the U.S., in heavy metal landfills, about 70% of that is made up of e-waste, and in 2005, the total amount of unwanted electronics was over 2 million tons of e-waste.

Disposing The disposal of e-waste can be very expensive, one of the most expensive is the disposal of broken CRT monitors (cathode ray tube) because the proper disposal of CRTs is so expensive. Usually, people look over these disposed of electronics, and then they are exported to developing nations, because these exporters argue that the refurbishing of these used electronics help these nations, and create jobs and money in those nations. However, these exporters don’t always check really well to whether the electronics are still toxic or not and just send them anyways. The disposal of e-waste can be very expensive, one of the most expensive is the disposal of broken CRT monitors (cathode ray tube) because the proper disposal of CRTs is so expensive. Usually, people look over these disposed of electronics, and then they are exported to developing nations, because these exporters argue that the refurbishing of these used electronics help these nations, and create jobs and money in those nations. However, these exporters don’t always check really well to whether the electronics are still toxic or not and just send them anyways.

The reason the United States doesn’t usually refurbish old electronics is because it takes away from the production of the bigger companies. The reason the United States doesn’t usually refurbish old electronics is because it takes away from the production of the bigger companies. Only 18 states in the United States actually enforce electronic recycling Only 18 states in the United States actually enforce electronic recycling On July 6, 2009, Senator Amy Klobuchar and Senator Kristen Gillibrand proposed a bill called the “Electronic Device Recycling Research and and Development Act”. This would focus on stopping illegal e-waste dumping, and also focus on creating more sustainable designs of electronics to decrease toxic waste and increase the reuse and recycling of electronics On July 6, 2009, Senator Amy Klobuchar and Senator Kristen Gillibrand proposed a bill called the “Electronic Device Recycling Research and and Development Act”. This would focus on stopping illegal e-waste dumping, and also focus on creating more sustainable designs of electronics to decrease toxic waste and increase the reuse and recycling of electronics

Some of the laws passed concerning this in California are: Some of the laws passed concerning this in California are: Electronic Waste Recycling ActElectronic Waste Recycling Act Cell Phone Takeback and RecyclingCell Phone Takeback and Recycling Rechargeable Battery Takeback and RecyclingRechargeable Battery Takeback and Recycling

There are some companies that will recycle your e-waste for a small fee such as Office Depot, or the larger companies like Apple, Dell, HP, and Sony. There are some companies that will recycle your e-waste for a small fee such as Office Depot, or the larger companies like Apple, Dell, HP, and Sony. However the places that say they will recycle your e-waste for free should be avoided, because it’s a very likely possibility that all they are doing is exporting the waste to third world countries. However the places that say they will recycle your e-waste for free should be avoided, because it’s a very likely possibility that all they are doing is exporting the waste to third world countries.

Proponents People for the exportation of used electronics say that it helps developing nations because it creates jobs in refurbishing electronics and helps to stimulate their economy in a decline People for the exportation of used electronics say that it helps developing nations because it creates jobs in refurbishing electronics and helps to stimulate their economy in a decline

Opponents People against the exportation say that it is really bad to export the e- waste to developing nations because any electronics that cannot be refurbished, are usually just burned which releases all the toxins in the electronics into the air, thus hurting the environment. People against the exportation say that it is really bad to export the e- waste to developing nations because any electronics that cannot be refurbished, are usually just burned which releases all the toxins in the electronics into the air, thus hurting the environment.

E-waste should be disposed of in the correct ways because eventually all of the waste disposed of improperly will catch up to us in some way or another whether through environmental destruction, or causing problems between the United States and other countries to which we export the e-waste. E-waste should be disposed of in the correct ways because eventually all of the waste disposed of improperly will catch up to us in some way or another whether through environmental destruction, or causing problems between the United States and other countries to which we export the e-waste.

Sources “Diposal of Electronic Devices”. Bright Hub. 11 April November “Diposal of Electronic Devices”. Bright Hub. 11 April November “Electronic Hazardous Waste (E-Waste)”. CA.gov. California Department of Toxic Substances Control. 24 November “Electronic Hazardous Waste (E-Waste)”. CA.gov. California Department of Toxic Substances Control. 24 November “Electronic Waste”. Wikipedia. 20 November November “Electronic Waste”. Wikipedia. 20 November November 2009.