Responsible Recycling: e-Waste IT Asset Disposals Presented by, Rick Dillard, CPPM University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Bob Mahaney, CPPS University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

What is e-Waste? Discarded computers. Office electronic equipment. Mobile phones, pda’s, pagers. Televisions, monitors. Keyboards, mice, cables. Servers, network switches, batteries, etc.

Common flow of disposal for end-of- life electronics

Why is it important to responsibly recycle e-Waste? One of the fastest growing waste streams worldwide The EPA estimates only 15-20% is recycled The rest ends up in landfills or incinerators The United States is the world leader in producing electronic waste. In the U.S 30 million computers each year are discarded. In the U.S 80% of e-Waste ends up in landfills 70% of the heavy metals found in U.S landfills come from discarded electronics Over 50% of e-Waste is exported for processing by recyclers

Toxins found in e-Waste Brominated flame retardants Found in the plastic casing of computer monitors and towers, circuit boards, cables and wires to prevent flammability. -May cause thyroid damage and harm fetal development. Chromium -Found in computer towers’ metal housings and plates as hardening and corrosion protection. -Inhaling the hexavalent form of chromium can damage the liver, kidneys, cause lung cancer and asthmatic bronchitis. Mercury -Found in flat panel LCD monitors, circuit boards and switches. -Can cause brain and kidney damage and is also harmful to the developing fetus because it can pass through breast milk.

Toxins found in e-Waste continued. Beryllium -Found in computer motherboards. -Inhalation of beryllium dust, fume or mist causes lung cancer. -Workers can develop Chronic Beryllium Disease (beryllicosis), a disease that primarily affects the lungs. The disease can develop many years after the last exposure. Cadmium -Found in the phosphorescent coating on the interior of the computer screen, in cables and wires, chip resistors, infrared detectors, semiconductor chips, plastic stabilizers, CRTs, and computer batteries. -Causes cancer and can damage the bones and kidneys, where it accumulates. Barium -A metal used in the front panel of CRTs to protect users from radiation. -Exposure to barium causes brain swelling, muscle weakness, and damage to the heart, liver and spleen Phosphor -Found on the interior of CRT faceplates. -US Navy gives the following guidelines for dealing with CRTs that contain phosphor: “NEVER touch a CRT’s phosphor coating: it is extremely toxic. If you break a CRT, clean up the glass fragments very carefully. If you touch the phosphor seek medical attention immediately,” Lead (found in CRT’s) A neurotoxin, causes damage to the central and peripheral nervous systems, blood systems, kidney and reproductive system. Mercury -Found in flat panel LCD monitors, circuit boards and switches. -Can cause brain and kidney damage and is also harmful to the developing fetus because it can pass through breast milk.

Who’s stuff is being exported?

Do you know what happens to your e- Waste after it leaves your property? Do you care? If you don’t know where it is going, it could be going in a landfill or worse.

Could your e-Waste be here?

Or here?

E-Waste processing Woman about to smash a cathode ray tube from a computer monitor in order to remove the copper laden yoke at the end of the funnel. The glass is laden with lead but the biggest hazard from this is the inhalation of the highly toxic phosphor dust coating inside. Monitor glass is later dumped in irrigation canals and along the river where it leaches lead into the groundwater. The groundwater in Guiyu is completely contaminated to the point where fresh water is trucked in constantly for drinking purposes. Guiyu, China. December ©2006 Basel Action Network (BAN)

What Recycler Certifications Mean to You. HIPAA compliance Certificate of confirmed data destruction Comprehensive liability insurance Access-controlled facility The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not certify electronics recyclers No export / landfill policy Best practices If they claim to be certified, ask by whom, and verify.

What certifications to look for R2 ( R2solutions.org ) IAER ( International Association of Electronics Recyclers) ISRI (Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries) ed_electronic_recyclers.html Basel Action Network (E-Stewards) ISO 14001

How can you make a difference? Educate upper management and your staff and establish environmentally sound practices regarding the final disposition of e-Waste. Review your current agreements with your e-Waste recycler Partner with a certified electronics recycler. Collaborate with other peer groups faced with the same issue. Participate in sustainability / recycling focus groups Become a e-Waste recycling champion!!

TMC Sustainability Advisory Council

Sources All photos used have been provided by: Basel Action Network (BAS) National Geographic

Free eWaste Disposal A dose of reality. Why is it free? They take the good with the bad. Disposal costs of bad offset by good revenue.

Free eWaste Disposal Second dose of reality. If all of your eWaste is good eWaste? You may want a revenue stream. Revenue stream may offer some cost recovery.

Free eWaste Disposal Final dose of reality. If most of your eWaste is bad eWaste? Take full credit for arranging the free service.

Questions?