| There is no quick and easy answer to the | | | | So, just what is the right thing to do, you ask. |
| question of what to do with all of our | | | | Reduce - |
| throw-away electronics, but one thing is for sure - | | | | Be responsible about your purchases. |
| it is an ever-growing issue and we all need to act | | | | Maybe you can up-grade your computer, rather |
| responsibly with the disposal of our E-waste. | | | | than toss it and buy a new one. |
| According to Stateline.org an online publication and | | | | Purchase from responsible manufacturers. Dell, HP |
| independent element of the Pew Research | | | | and Apple offer free take back and recycling |
| Center: There is no precise estimate of how | | | | programs. |
| much E-waste is piling up in the nation's landfills, | | | | Reuse - |
| but the National Safety Council estimates that 500 | | | | Donate equipment that is still functioning to |
| million defunct computers and monitors will be | | | | non-profit organizations, schools or churches. |
| discarded by 2007. California's environmental | | | | Recycle - |
| protection agency estimates 6 million monitors are | | | | Items that cannot be repaired can be recycled |
| stacked in state homes and offices waiting to be | | | | through reputable companies. |
| tossed. | | | | Before you donate, or recycle your PC or cell |
| We cannot just toss these items into the garbage | | | | phone be sure to clear the memory of any |
| and forget about them, and here is why. All of | | | | personal data. Simply deleting the files from your |
| our electronic components contain varying levels | | | | desktop does not clear the hard drive. There are |
| of toxic substances, such as mercury, lead and | | | | software programs to overwrite the disk, you |
| polyvinyl chloride, just to name a few, which will | | | | can reformat the hard drive and re-install the |
| leach out into our groundwater, if they end up in | | | | operating system, or the more drastic route is to |
| landfills. | | | | physically destroy the hard drive by removing it |
| The electronic age is here to stay, so what are | | | | from the housing unit and smashing it with a |
| we to do with the inevitable, and growing | | | | hammer. |
| collection of broken or out-dated equipment? | | | | E-waste is the fastest growing part of municipal |
| Federal and State environmental laws are being | | | | waste streams, and rising almost three times |
| written and revised to include guidelines for | | | | faster than the overall waste stream, according |
| correct disposal of electronic equipment that is at | | | | to the EPA. We, the purchasing public, need to not |
| or near the end of its useful life. In California, the | | | | only be aware of the consequences of our |
| Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 (SB20 / | | | | consumer driven culture, but be responsible for |
| SB50) establishes a funding system for the | | | | our individual contribution to the problem, and be |
| collection and recycling of certain electronic | | | | willing to step up to the plate to do the right thing. |
| wastes. The California Integrated Waste | | | | The following is a partial list of items that should |
| Management Board has adopted regulations to | | | | NOT go into the garbage can: |
| implement portions of the statute. | | | | Fluorescent lamps & bulbs, including CFLs |
| ~ Key elements of the Electronic Waste | | | | (compact fluorescent lights) |
| Recycling Act include: | | | | ALL batteries |
| ~ Reduction in hazardous substances used in | | | | Computer monitors and TV sets |
| certain electronic products sold in California. | | | | Computer hard drive |
| ~ Collection of an electronic waste recycling fee | | | | Printers & Fax Machines |
| at the point of sale of certain products. | | | | Cell phones |
| ~ Distribution and recovery of recycling payments | | | | VCRs |
| to qualified entities covering the cost of electronic | | | | Radios |
| waste collection and recycling. | | | | Microwaves |
| ~ Directive to recommend environmentally | | | | Cordless phones |
| preferred purchasing criteria for state agency | | | | Telephone answering machines |
| purchases of certain electronic equipment. | | | | Some communities offer Hazardous Waste |
| For the individual and small business consumer this | | | | Recycling events once or twice a year, which |
| program is intended to enhance the availability of | | | | makes the disposal of these items easy and safe. |
| convenient recycling options so that products | | | | Call your city offices or go online and research |
| containing toxic compounds are not disposed of | | | | the donation, recycling or disposal options for your |
| inappropriately. | | | | area. Also, visit your State's website for |
| The dilemma arises as the richer countries pass | | | | information about laws and regulations that may |
| legislation regulating the disposal of | | | | apply to you and your business. |
| E-waste, and the "recycling" business turns out to | | | | For those of you with an entrepreneurial spirit, |
| be more of an "export" business to third-world | | | | this may look like an opportunity - to develop |
| countries. An ABC News 20/20 segment on Jan 1, | | | | solutions that are earth-friendly and |
| 2006, reported that | | | | people-friendly. We need convenient and safe |
| 80% of scrap electronics from the US ends up | | | | disposal for even the laziest of us consumers. |
| offshore, where workers extract the few | | | | While this is a vast and complex issue, if each one |
| desirable parts and leave the rest in mountains of | | | | of us makes the effort to be as educated as |
| plastic and twisted parts to pollute the | | | | possible, understand the power of our purchasing |
| environment. There are also issues of worker | | | | choices, one by one we do have enormous |
| safety in these so-called recycling plants. | | | | impact. Visit the web sites below for more in |
| Employee safety concerns are substandard, and | | | | depth information and resources for the proper |
| in many cases, workers are unaware of the | | | | disposal of your E-waste. |
| hazards they are being exposed to. | | | | |