| Consumer electronics are the equipments that | | | | polychlorinated biphenyls which are really very |
| you use around the house such as the television, | | | | dangerous. The cathode ray tubes that are |
| phones, computers etc. Most consumer | | | | present in our monitor, television and laptops are |
| electronics are really useful when they are in | | | | huge in quantity. They are very difficult and |
| working condition. But once they are broken or | | | | expensive to recycle. There are nearly 38 |
| replaced, they become a menace to the society. | | | | different chemical components present in the |
| These consumer electronics consist of mercury, | | | | e-waste. The plastic that is used to make the |
| PCB and many other harmful substances which | | | | consumer goods contains flame retardant. When |
| need to be disposed or recycled properly. There | | | | these devices are disposed, the flame retardants |
| are certain rules that have to be followed for | | | | that is present in the plastic leach on to the soil. |
| proper disposal. Every consumer should be | | | | The waste electrical and economic directive |
| educated on how to dispose their electronic | | | | (WEEE) is a European initiative. This directive |
| waste or the e-waste. The government should | | | | states that each manufacturer should have the |
| enforce them on all manufactures and also take | | | | infrastructures and procedures to collect the old |
| preventive measures to keep our society safe. | | | | equipment upon the request of the consumers |
| When these Electronic wastes are segregated | | | | for free of charge. Each of these devices should |
| properly, most of the raw materials could be | | | | be collected, packed and recycles in the proper |
| recycled. Consumers are advised to call the | | | | manner. The recycled material should be reused |
| appropriate people for the disposal of their | | | | to the maximum efficiency possible. |
| e-waste. | | | | When you buy new consumer electronics, either |
| The United states alone provide about 3 million | | | | donate or sell your old ones if they are in good |
| tons of e-waste. Due to the difficulty and the | | | | working condition. There are many public schools |
| cost, all these e-waste are exported to the | | | | and orphanages that are in need of more |
| developing countries. The recycling procedure is | | | | resources. If you are going to exchange your old |
| done by separating the plastic, glass, circuit boards | | | | equipments for new ones, try and find out what |
| and the toxic materials. I am shocked to learn | | | | they intent on doing with it. Find out how they |
| that the 80% of toxic materials are burnt or | | | | recycle them. As a consumer, it is your |
| destroyed in the developing countries. The | | | | responsibility to be informed of such things. |
| workers involved in those activities are children | | | | Avoid buying new equipments unnecessarily. |
| who are deprived of their education. The other | | | | Regular service of the consumer electronics helps |
| 10% is sent to the US prison where the prisoners | | | | in the proper maintenance of the product. Handle |
| are made to work in the hazardous environment. | | | | equipments the way that is given on the manual. |
| Only 10% of the components are recycles | | | | Handle all service problems with authorized service |
| properly. Most consumers are not aware about | | | | centers. They might be a little more expensive |
| such details. | | | | than the regular service centers but they will only |
| Most of the consumer electronics such as the | | | | have the original parts needed for your |
| refrigerators, air conditioners and television | | | | equipment, they would last longer. The local |
| contains refrigerants, coolants, mercury etc which | | | | service centers have people scamming the |
| leads to the emission of greenhouse gases. These | | | | consumers with fake parts and sometimes over |
| greenhouse gases are the main reason for the | | | | pricing the basic charges. |
| depletion of the ozone layer. The ozone layer | | | | Every consumer must show more respect to the |
| protects the Earth's atmosphere from the | | | | planet we live in. Never buy things that are not |
| harmful rays such as the ultra violet rays. These | | | | needed. There are many environment friendly |
| rays cause the serious case of skin cancer. The | | | | alternatives for every problem. All the waste that |
| Carcinogenic substances that are present in many | | | | is accumulated due to improper disposal of |
| of the e-waste contain polychlorinated biphenyls | | | | consumer electronics leads to many disastrous |
| (PCBs).The Capacitors, resistors, transistors and | | | | results such as extinction of animals and |
| wires are insulated with components that are | | | | dangerous to us humans. When people are more |
| coated with polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The | | | | conscious about our environment, they would |
| equipments that are manufactured before 1977 | | | | definitely take more initiative to keep our |
| may also contain dangerous amount of | | | | environment clean and hazard free. |