Posted by Nancy Sabatelli on May.02, 2010

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I’m writing this article on my laptop. You’re reading this article on your computer. My cell phone is next to me on the table. The TV, VCR, DVD player and stereo are across the room. Face it, we’re an electronic e-culture: we rely on electronic devices for work, entertainment, communication and a bevy of other purposes. And we’re always awaiting the next, latest, greatest models of electronic items: when they hit the shelves, we fork over big bucks for new versions with bells and whistles. But what happens to our old cell phones, computers, TVs and other electronic items when we don’t want them anymore? Often, they’re shipped off to other countries for disposal in landfills, where they pose environmental and health hazards. This is why responsible recycling of electronic e-waste is so important.

What is E-Waste?

E-waste — or electronic waste — is a broad term for old, unused, discarded electronic goods, such as computers, cell phones, TVs, VCRs, CD players and other similar items. According to the Web site, Earth911.com, e-waste makes up only a small portion of the contents of landfills — only about 1 to 4 percent (1). Yet, e-waste is the source of approximately “70 percent of the heavy metals in landfills,” Earth911.com writes (1). The number of discarded electronics sitting in landfills worldwide is astonishing – and growing by 40 million metric tons each year, as we continue to buy new electronics and throw our old ones away (1).

Why is E-Waste Dangerous?

The metals in electronic devices and batteries – like nickel, cadmium, lead or mercury – can seep into the soil and water sources surrounding landfills. Then, metals can affect the crops and food we eat, and the water we drink. When they contaminate the water supply, they also affect the fish, which we then eat, and we become affected.

Airborne toxins from e-waste are another problem. Sometimes, e-waste must undergo special processing or burning to remove certain components, but this creates toxins. Metals as well as chemicals released into the air during processing or burning of e-waste have been linked to lung, liver, brain and nervous system damage and cancer (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7).

Where Does E-Waste Go?

In many cases, e-waste is shipped off to countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East – especially those that are poor and underdeveloped – such as India, China, Nigeria, Ghana and Pakistan (2, 3, 4). Greenpeace reports “that 50-80 percent of” e-waste from the U.S. is exported to these countries (4). Although these countries have legislation to prevent e-waste influx, the laws are not enforced. As a result, thousands of tons of e-waste arrive in landfills in these countries every year.

Why ship e-waste off to other countries instead of dealing with it here? First, we generate way too much e-waste for domestic landfills to process. Second, economics play a role: it’s less expensive to dispose of e-waste in poor countries. For example, “the cost of glass-to-glass recycling of computer monitors in the U.S. is ten times more than in China,” Greenpeace notes (4). Furthermore, foreign workers – often children — in landfills or recycling centers aren’t paid as much and aren’t subject to the same health and safety protection as American workers.

What is the Value of E-Waste?

Old electronic items have value because they can be taken apart and the materials can be reused. For example, a single old used cell phone contains about $2.50 worth of metals, like gold, silver and copper, claims Dan Shapley for Yahoo! Green (5). Other electronic items, like cameras and computers, also contain valuable metals and plastics that can be harvested and reused to make new, similar electronic devices.

In addition to the value of material parts, e-waste has potential monetary value if you can sell your old, unused electronics. One company, NextWorth (http://www.nextworth.com/#/tab_page_column_features=feature_container_0/), pays you for unwanted cell phones, video game systems and other electronics. According to Shapley, the average payout is about $25 to $30, but can be as much as $340, depending on the particular model and its condition (5).

Plus, don’t forget about sites like Amazon, Craigslist or eBay, where you can list your old electronics for sale. Put an ad in your local newspaper classified section. Have a tag sale. There are many ways you can rake in the dough while preventing old electronics from ending up in landfills.

What are the Best Ways to Handle E-Waste?

Many companies are now realizing the growing problem posed by e-waste, and are developing solutions for handling it.

Some retailers — such as Home Depot, Best Buy, Staples and other stores — have programs where you can bring in your old, unwanted electronics. Similarly, some computer and cell phone manufacturers — like Dell, HP, Apple, Sony, AT&T, Verizon and others – will take back their old, unused products (8).

Earth911 provides an extremely helpful, comprehensive list of retailers and manufacturers who offer such programs. Plus, there are a few charitable organizations listed who accept donations of electronic items, like cell phones or computers. View the list at http://earth911.com/recycling/electronics/proper-disposal-and-recycling-of-e-waste/

Check with your local schools, libraries, domestic violence shelters, Goodwill or other programs: they often accept unwanted electronic goods. Although your old computer or cell phone may no longer fit your needs, it may be perfect for a school, library or shelter, especially when these organizations face budget cuts and lack resources.

In addition, at least a few times a year, most cities and towns have special dates at designated recycling locations where you can bring in e-waste for proper disposal. Check with your local officials for more information. You can also visit http://earth911.com/ to search for recycling centers based on where you live and the type of electronic item you want to recycle.

Whether you sell, donate or return your e-waste, you must properly prepare it. This is especially true for computers. “One important concern is to erase all data from the computer before sending it off” to be reused by someone else or recycled, warns Earth911.com (8). This will help ensure your private information remains private.

So, when you upgrade to a new cell phone, computer, TV or other electronic device, don’t just toss your old one out in the trash. It can be reused or recycled, preventing harm to the environment and our health.

Sources:

1. E-waste: A Recyclable Resource. (2010). Earth911. Retrieved April 20, 2010 from http://earth911.com/recycling/electronics/e-waste-a-recyclable-resource/

2. Rappak, Amanda. Wave Goodbye to e-Waste. (2010). Green Living. Retrieved April 18, 2010 from http://www.greenlivingonline.com/article/wave-goodbye-e-waste

3. It’s Time to Say Goodbye to e-Waste: Why Our Gadgets are Toxic to Developing Nations. (August 11, 2009). Planet Green. Retrieved April 18, 2010 from http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tech-transport/time-remove-ewaste.html

4. Where Does e-Waste End Up? (2010). Greenpeace. Retrieved April 20, 2010 from http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/toxics/electronics/where-does-e-waste-end-up

5. Shapley, Dan. How to Better Reuse and Recycle Old Electronics. (September 15, 2009). Yahoo! Green. Retrieved April 18, 2010 from http://green.yahoo.com/blog/daily_green_news/158/how-to-better-reuse-and-recycle-old-electronics.html

6. How Electronics are Recycled. (2010). Earth911. Retrieved April 20, 2010 from http://earth911.com/recycling/electronics/how-electronics-are-recycled/

7. E-waste: Harmful Materials. (2010). Earth911. Retrieved April 20, 2010 from http://earth911.com/recycling/electronics/e-waste-harmful-materials/

8. Proper Disposal and Recycling of E-Waste. (2010). Earth911. Retrieved April 20, 2010 from http://earth911.com/recycling/electronics/proper-disposal-and-recycling-of-e-waste/

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