| Some of the most toxic products being tossed | | | | Nickel-cadmium batteries, called Ni-Cds, were the |
| out as household trash are cell phones and | | | | battery of choice because they were |
| electronic devices. This type of trash is called | | | | rechargeable. The problem is that the metals used |
| e-trash, and especially problematic are cell phones. | | | | in these batteries are highly toxic. Cadmium is a |
| Cell phones contain a very high level of toxic | | | | PBT and a probable carcinogen. It has been linked |
| substances that enter the environment when | | | | to lung, liver and kidney damage, and has been |
| discarded cell phones are incinerated or when | | | | found to be toxic to wildlife. As with the other |
| rainwater leaches these chemicals out of the | | | | toxic chemicals mentioned, cadmium is being |
| landfills into our drinking water. | | | | eliminated from electronic products by many |
| Cell phones are known to contain toxins such as | | | | manufacturers. |
| antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, copper, | | | | The Lithium-ion and nickel-metal hydride |
| lead, nickel, and zinc. These chemicals are listed by | | | | rechargeable battery has typically replaced the |
| the EPA, as persistent toxins (persistent | | | | Ni-Cds, but they contain their own supply of toxic |
| bioaccumulative toxins, PBTS), meaning they do | | | | chemicals. |
| not readily breakdown and remain in the | | | | The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation |
| environment for years. Of these metals, lead and | | | | is a non-profit organization that recycles |
| cadmium accumulate in both plant and animal | | | | rechargeable batteries. The program, Call2Recycle, |
| tissue, and have been known to be responsible | | | | has collected millions of pounds of rechargeable |
| for many disorders in humans. | | | | batteries and kept them from the landfills. They |
| The dangers of lead has been known for many | | | | are trying to educate people on how easy it is to |
| years. It is thought to be a carcinogen and | | | | recycle a rechargeable battery or cell phone in the |
| adversely affects the central nervous system, | | | | United States and Canada. A Google search on |
| kidneys, immune system and has been associated | | | | Call2Recycle will direct you to a recycling center |
| with development disorders in children. Lead was | | | | near you. It's free. It's convenient. It's responsible. |
| banned from paint years ago, and manufacturers | | | | Unfortunately, few people know about this |
| are now beginning to eliminate lead from electronic | | | | program, so most cell phones and electronics end |
| components. Every electronic device contains a | | | | up in landfills. |
| circuit board and most often, lead is used to | | | | Recycling is not the end all to solve our |
| solder components on to these circuit boards. | | | | environmental problems. The recycling program is |
| Another especially toxic component of cell phones | | | | heavily dependent on consumers. When the |
| is brominated flame retardants. This chemical is | | | | economy sags and consumers are not buying, the |
| added to plastics to reduce the risk of fire. Many | | | | need for recycled materials sags along with the |
| components of the cell phone use this chemical. | | | | economy. This became painfully evident with the |
| Scientific research has shown that some of these | | | | economic crisis that began in October 2009. |
| brominated flame retardants are also persistent | | | | Recycling plants across the nation were hit hard. |
| bioaccumulative and toxic, but it is not know what | | | | The demand for recycled products needed to |
| long term effects this chemical has on humans | | | | manufacture new products was severely curtailed. |
| and the environment. | | | | The price for recycled products in some cases |
| Some of these flame retardants have been linked | | | | dropped 90% taking away the profit from these |
| to cancer and disturbances in the immune and | | | | recycling facilities. |
| endocrine systems. When these products are | | | | Our only hope is to make an effort to reuse as |
| incinerated, they give off highly toxic by- | | | | many products as we can at home, and to aim |
| products. As with lead, many manufacturers are | | | | for zero waste. If recycling is no longer profitable |
| eliminating these chemicals from electronic | | | | for companies, we may see a future where we |
| products. | | | | are charged for all the garbage we generate, and |
| At the time when cell phones first became | | | | at a much higher rate than many of us pay now. |
| available to the average consumer, | | | | Disposing highly toxic chemicals may be very |
| nickel-cadmium was used as a power source. | | | | expensive for the consumer. |