Most people know that you’re not supposed to put old batteries in the garbage can. It’s also fairly obvious that a refrigerator doesn’t go out with the rest of the trash when it stops working. However, the short lifecycle, small size and (sometimes) cheap outward appearance of electronics have driven the accumulation of large amounts of hazardous materials in landfills around the world.
According to a United Nations University Study in 2004, “manufacturing one desktop computer and 17-inch CRT monitor uses at least 240 kg of fossil fuels, 22 kg of chemicals and 1,500 kg of water – a total of 1.8 tonnes of materials.”
Another study released by the United Nations Environment Program in 2010 warns that e-waste Is growing by 40 million metric tons per year. The problem is especially bad in developing countries that are not equipped to properly dispose of the materials. Scavengers in these countries often burn the discarded technology, resulting the release of even more hazardous materials into the air, bad for the environment and dangerous for the people.
Exacerbating the problem is the relatively unpublicized phenomenon of illegal trafficking in hazardous waste. Companies from the U.S. and other developed countries shipping their old technological junk to less developed countries. Aside from the obvious problems this causes for the developing countries this practice also further removes the citizens of those countries from the problems associated with their actions.
E-waste is a serious problem that will only continue to grow if it the government continues to avoid the legislation necessary to control it.
According to a United Nations University Study in 2004, “manufacturing one desktop computer and 17-inch CRT monitor uses at least 240 kg of fossil fuels, 22 kg of chemicals and 1,500 kg of water – a total of 1.8 tonnes of materials.”
Another study released by the United Nations Environment Program in 2010 warns that e-waste Is growing by 40 million metric tons per year. The problem is especially bad in developing countries that are not equipped to properly dispose of the materials. Scavengers in these countries often burn the discarded technology, resulting the release of even more hazardous materials into the air, bad for the environment and dangerous for the people.
Exacerbating the problem is the relatively unpublicized phenomenon of illegal trafficking in hazardous waste. Companies from the U.S. and other developed countries shipping their old technological junk to less developed countries. Aside from the obvious problems this causes for the developing countries this practice also further removes the citizens of those countries from the problems associated with their actions.
E-waste is a serious problem that will only continue to grow if it the government continues to avoid the legislation necessary to control it.
