Recycling and Reuse Opportunities

RECYCLING AND REUSE OPPORTUNITIES

FOR USED ELECTRONICS

INTRODUCTION

When we walk into most households in the U.S. today, we will find at least one television and a computer. Most businesses and other organizations now also use computers, and consider them essential to conduct business. In the past decade, technological advances in electronic and communications have improved economic growth and people’s lives in countless ways. However, the increasing usages of electronic products both at home and in the workplace have given rise to a new environmental challenge: electronic waste. A recent study in U.S shows that electronic already make up approximately 1 percent of the municipal solid waste. Also, researches completed in Europe show that electronics waste is growing at three times the rate of other municipal waste (Researchers 18). In order to protect our environment, electronics waste should be prevented, and older electronics should be reused and recycled.

Purpose of the Study

The purposes of this study are to educate the general public about the environmental impact of e-waste, to provide the recycling and reuse opportunities, and to be aware of the laws and regulations regarding e-waste. According to the report from EPA, over 20 million personal computers became obsolete in 1998. Only 13 percent were reused or recycled (Schmidt 192). Now, many municipalities are facing the dilemma of what to do with growing amounts of retired electronics. Besides, governments worldwide are increasingly concerned about electronic waste. In Europe, some countries have resolved the problem by forcing manufacturers to take back discarded electronics, while states such as California and Massachusetts have banned their disposal in municipal solid waste landfills (Bergner 379-381).

Scope of the Study

This study includes the potential environmental impacts such as global warming, ozone depletion potential, and human toxicity potential caused by e-waste; a systematic approach for enhancement of information, business and production management systems to deal with additional activities and processes related to the recovery of products; the four main waste avoidance routes of repair, reconditioning, remanufacturing, and recycling; the recycling system for waste electrical and electronic equipment at end-of-life (known as the “WEEE” Directive); comments on the enactment of the electronic waste recycling act of 2003; and the international regulations of e-waste.

Environmental issues

Millions of computers, monitors, and televisions end up in landfills. Not only is it a waste of resources but it could be a threat to the environment. E-waste contains hazardous materials such as lead and mercury are highly potent neurotoxins. As a result, it will cause IQ deficits and developmental abnormalities especially for children. Cadmium, a toxic metal found in circuit boards, cause pulmonary damage when burned and inhaled. In addition to metals in electronic, chemicals with a high affinity for fats harm human, animal, and fish tissues. Mercury in thermostats, relay switches, and telecom equipment are also poisoning food sources and exposing human to possible brain damage (Schmidt 191).

In order to reduce environmental impacts of e-waste, European Union (EU) policy maker implemented the WEEE Directive (waste electronic and electronic equipment at end-of-life) in February 2003. However, the WEEE Directive has both positive and negative environmental impacts. To prove that, C. Kieren Mayers, Chris M. France, and Sarah J. Cowell, the researchers from UK, analyze the possible environmental effects of the WEEE Directive, based on an example of printer recycling in the United Kingdom. In their studies, they propose nine environmental impacts based on four waste management scenarios (Table 1). These scenarios are selected based on the different waste materials and components that could be sent for recycling and energy recovery. The nine environmental impacts are non-renewable resource depletion, air acidification, photochemical oxidant formation, eutrophication, global warming potential, greenhouse effect, ozone depletion potential, human toxicity, and eco-toxicity. According to their report, the recycling of electronics under WEEE Directive results could be better or worse than landfilling. For example, even though the 99% recovery scenario reduce human toxicity by 15% compared to that for 100% landfilling, it has more 250% to 270% aquatic toxicity than that of 100% landfilling. It suggests that landfilling without material recovery is not the worst option compared to recycling and recovery options.