What is E-Waste?
E-Waste (electronics waste), also known as brown goods, refers to electronic equipment that is no longer usable or wanted. It encompasses a broad and growing range of electronic devices, including everything from computers and TVs to cellular phones and personal stereos.
E-Waste does not include large consumer appliances such as refrigerators, stoves, washers, and microwaves. These items also known as white goods, have their own
specific regulations.
Today, when an electronic item breaks, it is often perceived to be more cost effective to discard it and replace it with a new, more modern item instead of having it repaired. With technology advancing at an increasing rate, this trend will only increase, and more and more E-Waste could potentially end up in our landfills.
The volume: Approximately 220 million tons of E-Waste is generated annually in the U.S. In Iowa, about 274,000 personal computers were generated as waste in 2001, enough to fill the state capitol dome 10 times, and that number is expected to double by 2005.
According to the EPA, the volume of E-Waste is rising 3-5% each year -almost three times faster than the municipal waste stream.
Growth in computer sales has increased by up to 23% every year since 1985. When new computers are purchased, 75% of the old ones are
estimated to be simply stored somewhere in the buyer's home, because people just don't know what to do with them.
Environmental and Health Hazards: Discarded electronics contain hazardous materials, and if disposed of improperly, they pose a potential threat to human health and the environment. A computer typically contains 10 pounds of lead. E-Waste accounts for 40% of the lead and 75% of the heavy metals found in landfills. Although safe when used, when electronics are discarded in a landfill, the acidic conditions provide an environment in which lead and other heavy metals may leach out. If the landfill's liner fails, the groundwater supply may become contaminated.
How are Computers Recycled? Some used computer materials can be recycled or reused instead of landfilled.
There are four main types of electronic recyclers, and some recyclers perform multiple functions within the following categories:
Collectors- Collectors accept electronics from business and the general public. Collected material is then shipped to a refurbisher, demanufacturer or processor. There are two main types of collectors: those affiliated with a permanent drop-off site, and those operating from a temporary location set up for a special collection event.
Refurbishers- Refurbishers include non- and for-profit organizations that accept, sort and refurbish used computer equipment. Reparable products are either resold or donated after they are restored to working condition; nonreparable compenents are sent to a demanufacturer or processor.
Demanufacturers- Demanufacturers accept used computer equipment and broken-down computer components. Parts are then further broken down into pieces such as plastic housing, wires, metals, and circuit boards. Demanufacturers then send these parts to smelters or processors who have the equipment and facilities to process these components.
Processors- Processors accept demanufactured electronic components and breaks them down to their raw materials. Processing may also include resource recovery procedures such as precious metal separation, lead smelting and waste-to-energy incineration. Processing is the last stage of recycling before the final disposition.
E-Waste does not include large consumer appliances such as refrigerators, stoves, washers, and microwaves. These items also known as white goods, have their own
specific regulations.
Today, when an electronic item breaks, it is often perceived to be more cost effective to discard it and replace it with a new, more modern item instead of having it repaired. With technology advancing at an increasing rate, this trend will only increase, and more and more E-Waste could potentially end up in our landfills.
The volume: Approximately 220 million tons of E-Waste is generated annually in the U.S. In Iowa, about 274,000 personal computers were generated as waste in 2001, enough to fill the state capitol dome 10 times, and that number is expected to double by 2005.
According to the EPA, the volume of E-Waste is rising 3-5% each year -almost three times faster than the municipal waste stream.
Growth in computer sales has increased by up to 23% every year since 1985. When new computers are purchased, 75% of the old ones are
estimated to be simply stored somewhere in the buyer's home, because people just don't know what to do with them.
Environmental and Health Hazards: Discarded electronics contain hazardous materials, and if disposed of improperly, they pose a potential threat to human health and the environment. A computer typically contains 10 pounds of lead. E-Waste accounts for 40% of the lead and 75% of the heavy metals found in landfills. Although safe when used, when electronics are discarded in a landfill, the acidic conditions provide an environment in which lead and other heavy metals may leach out. If the landfill's liner fails, the groundwater supply may become contaminated.
How are Computers Recycled? Some used computer materials can be recycled or reused instead of landfilled.
There are four main types of electronic recyclers, and some recyclers perform multiple functions within the following categories:
Collectors- Collectors accept electronics from business and the general public. Collected material is then shipped to a refurbisher, demanufacturer or processor. There are two main types of collectors: those affiliated with a permanent drop-off site, and those operating from a temporary location set up for a special collection event.
Refurbishers- Refurbishers include non- and for-profit organizations that accept, sort and refurbish used computer equipment. Reparable products are either resold or donated after they are restored to working condition; nonreparable compenents are sent to a demanufacturer or processor.
Demanufacturers- Demanufacturers accept used computer equipment and broken-down computer components. Parts are then further broken down into pieces such as plastic housing, wires, metals, and circuit boards. Demanufacturers then send these parts to smelters or processors who have the equipment and facilities to process these components.
Processors- Processors accept demanufactured electronic components and breaks them down to their raw materials. Processing may also include resource recovery procedures such as precious metal separation, lead smelting and waste-to-energy incineration. Processing is the last stage of recycling before the final disposition.
CRT Policy
The Federal Environmental Protection Agency has determined that colored cathode ray tubes (CRTs) are hazardous waste because of the amount of lead in them. In order to comply with Federal(EPA) and State (Iowa Department of Natural Resources) regulations, the Floyd-Mitchell-Chickasaw Solid Waste Management Agency
requires that all CRTs (including Televisions and computer Monitors) be recycled. The Agency offers CRT recycling service for a fee, as do other collectors and recyclers in the planning area. Any CRTs found in any load of waste deposited at the landfill will be removed by the hauler, and a fee charged to the customer or waste hauler who dumped it.
E-Waste New Technologies = New Challenges
Walk into most households in the United States today and you will find at least one television and at least one computer. Most businesses consider computers and
related equipment essential in conducting their day-to-day activities. But today's state-of-the-art system is tomorrow's dinosaur and soon becomes part of a fast-growing waste stream.
The Hazards
For every three computers purchased, two become obsolete. By 2005 the ratio will be one to one. Between 2000 and 2007, 500 million computers will become obsolete. In 1998 alone, 20 million computers were taken out of service and only 2.3 million were recycled. Computer waste has an enormous environmental impact and as our technology is continuously advancing has become a major ecological concern.
If current trends continue, by 2004, the amount of computers landfilled annually in the U.S. will be equal to a pile the size of a football field and a mile high.
The average life span of a computer today is two years. Consumers have, on average, two or three obsolete computers in their garages, closets or storage spaces — nobody knows what to do with them! As these computers make their way to the landfill they carry with them:
- 1 Billion pounds of Lead
- 4 Billion pounds of plastic
- 1.2 Million pounds of Chromium
requires that all CRTs (including Televisions and computer Monitors) be recycled. The Agency offers CRT recycling service for a fee, as do other collectors and recyclers in the planning area. Any CRTs found in any load of waste deposited at the landfill will be removed by the hauler, and a fee charged to the customer or waste hauler who dumped it.
E-Waste New Technologies = New Challenges
Walk into most households in the United States today and you will find at least one television and at least one computer. Most businesses consider computers and
related equipment essential in conducting their day-to-day activities. But today's state-of-the-art system is tomorrow's dinosaur and soon becomes part of a fast-growing waste stream.
The Hazards
For every three computers purchased, two become obsolete. By 2005 the ratio will be one to one. Between 2000 and 2007, 500 million computers will become obsolete. In 1998 alone, 20 million computers were taken out of service and only 2.3 million were recycled. Computer waste has an enormous environmental impact and as our technology is continuously advancing has become a major ecological concern.
If current trends continue, by 2004, the amount of computers landfilled annually in the U.S. will be equal to a pile the size of a football field and a mile high.
The average life span of a computer today is two years. Consumers have, on average, two or three obsolete computers in their garages, closets or storage spaces — nobody knows what to do with them! As these computers make their way to the landfill they carry with them:
- 1 Billion pounds of Lead
- 4 Billion pounds of plastic
- 1.2 Million pounds of Chromium
