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Our growing dependence on electronics products both at home and in the workplace has given rise to a new environmental challenge: electronic waste. A recent study by the U.S. EPA shows that electronics already make up approximately 1 percent on the municipal solid waste stream. Research indicates that electronic waste is growing at three times the rate of other municipal waste.
* According to the U.S. EPA, over 20 million personal computers became obsolete in 1998 and only 13% were reused or recycled.
* Electronic circuit boards, batteries, and color cathode ray tubes (CRTs) can contain hazardous materials such as lead, mercury and hexavalent chromium. If improperly handled or disposed, these toxins can be released into the environment through landfill leachate or incinerator ash.
* In just one year, over 112 million pounds of valuable materials were recovered from disposed electronics for recycling and reuse. Materials includes steel, glass, plastic and precious metals
reference link:
http://newyork.earth911.org/usa/master.asp?s=lib&a=electronics/elec_ew
The Creative Citizen Network:
vince says:
If you want to do good and make some cash, Second Rotation[http://www.secondrotation.com/] will buy your old cell phones and PDA's!
posted 10/02/07 at 09:05 PM
thecitizen says:
I just found out that Fedex and Kinkos will take old inkjet and toner cartridges (I know I have a box of old ones sitting around). Again, www.earth911.org has a great link to recycling that allows you to search by zip and type of material you seek to recycle. Very handy.
posted 09/14/07 at 12:55 PM