Top Banner
Electronic waste 1 Electronic waste Defective and obsolete electronic equipment. Electronic waste, e-waste, e-scrap, or waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) describes discarded electrical or electronic devices. There is a lack of consensus as to whether the term should apply to resale, reuse, and refurbishing industries, or only to product that cannot be used for its intended purpose. Informal processing of electronic waste in developing countries may cause serious health and pollution problems, though these countries are also most likely to reuse and repair electronics. Some electronic scrap components, such as CRTs, may contain contaminants such as lead, cadmium, beryllium, or brominated flame retardants. Even in developed countries recycling and disposal of e-waste may involve significant risk to workers and communities and great care must be taken to avoid unsafe exposure in recycling operations and leaching of material such as heavy metals from landfills and incinerator ashes. Scrap industry and USA EPA officials agree that materials should be managed with caution. Definitions Hoarding (left), disassembling (center) and collecting (right) electronic waste in Bengaluru, India "Electronic waste" may be defined as discarded computers, office electronic equipment, entertainment device electronics, mobile phones, television sets and refrigerators. This definition includes used electronics which are destined for reuse, resale, salvage, recycling, or disposal. Others define the re-usables (working and repairable electronics) and secondary scrap (copper, steel, plastic, etc.) to be "commodities", and reserve the term "waste" for residue or material which is dumped by the buyer rather than recycled, including residue from reuse and recycling operations. Because loads of surplus electronics are frequently commingled (good, recyclable, and non-recyclable), several public policy advocates apply the term "e-waste" broadly to all surplus electronics. Cathode ray tubes (CRT) are considered one of the hardest types to recycle. [1] CRTs have relatively high concentration of lead and phosphors (not to be confused with phosphorus), both of which are necessary for the display. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) includes discarded CRT monitors in its category of "hazardous household waste" [2] but considers CRTs that have been set aside for testing to be commodities if they are not discarded, speculatively accumulated, or left unprotected from weather and other damage. Debate continues over the distinction between "commodity" and "waste" electronics definitions. Some exporters are accused of deliberately leaving difficult-to-recycle, obsolete, or non-repairable equipment mixed in loads of working equipment (though this may also come through ignorance, or to avoid more costly treatment processes). Protectionists may broaden the definition of "waste" electronics in order to protect domestic markets from working secondary equipment. The high value of the computer recycling subset of electronic waste (working and reusable laptops, desktops, and components like RAM) can help pay the cost of transportation for a larger number of worthless pieces than can be achieved with display devices, which have less (or negative) scrap value. In A 2011 report, "Ghana E-Waste Country Assessment", [3] found that of 215,000 tons of electronics imported to Ghana, 30%
11
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Page 1: Electronic Waste

Electronic waste 1

Electronic waste

Defective and obsolete electronicequipment.

Electronic waste, e-waste, e-scrap, or waste electrical and electronicequipment (WEEE) describes discarded electrical or electronic devices. Thereis a lack of consensus as to whether the term should apply to resale, reuse, andrefurbishing industries, or only to product that cannot be used for its intendedpurpose. Informal processing of electronic waste in developing countries maycause serious health and pollution problems, though these countries are also mostlikely to reuse and repair electronics. Some electronic scrap components, such asCRTs, may contain contaminants such as lead, cadmium, beryllium, orbrominated flame retardants. Even in developed countries recycling and disposalof e-waste may involve significant risk to workers and communities and greatcare must be taken to avoid unsafe exposure in recycling operations and leachingof material such as heavy metals from landfills and incinerator ashes. Scrapindustry and USA EPA officials agree that materials should be managed withcaution.

Definitions

Hoarding (left), disassembling (center) and collecting (right) electronic waste in Bengaluru, India

"Electronic waste" may be defined as discarded computers, office electronic equipment, entertainment deviceelectronics, mobile phones, television sets and refrigerators. This definition includes used electronics which aredestined for reuse, resale, salvage, recycling, or disposal. Others define the re-usables (working and repairableelectronics) and secondary scrap (copper, steel, plastic, etc.) to be "commodities", and reserve the term "waste" forresidue or material which is dumped by the buyer rather than recycled, including residue from reuse and recyclingoperations. Because loads of surplus electronics are frequently commingled (good, recyclable, and non-recyclable),several public policy advocates apply the term "e-waste" broadly to all surplus electronics. Cathode ray tubes (CRT)are considered one of the hardest types to recycle.[1] CRTs have relatively high concentration of lead and phosphors(not to be confused with phosphorus), both of which are necessary for the display. The United States EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) includes discarded CRT monitors in its category of "hazardous household waste"[2] butconsiders CRTs that have been set aside for testing to be commodities if they are not discarded, speculativelyaccumulated, or left unprotected from weather and other damage.Debate continues over the distinction between "commodity" and "waste" electronics definitions. Some exporters are accused of deliberately leaving difficult-to-recycle, obsolete, or non-repairable equipment mixed in loads of working equipment (though this may also come through ignorance, or to avoid more costly treatment processes). Protectionists may broaden the definition of "waste" electronics in order to protect domestic markets from working secondary equipment. The high value of the computer recycling subset of electronic waste (working and reusable laptops, desktops, and components like RAM) can help pay the cost of transportation for a larger number of worthless pieces than can be achieved with display devices, which have less (or negative) scrap value. In A 2011 report, "Ghana E-Waste Country Assessment",[3] found that of 215,000 tons of electronics imported to Ghana, 30%

Page 2: Electronic Waste

Electronic waste 2

were brand new and 70% were used. Of the used product, the study concluded that 15% was not reused and wasscrapped or discarded. This contrasts with published but uncredited claims that 80% of the imports into Ghana werebeing burned in primitive conditions.

Problems

A fragment of discarded circuit board

Rapid changes in technology, changes in media (tapes, software, MP3),falling prices, and planned obsolescence have resulted in afast-growing surplus of electronic waste around the globe. Dave Kruch,CEO of Cash For Laptops, regards electronic waste as a "rapidlyexpanding" issue.[4] Technical solutions are available, but in mostcases a legal framework, a collection system, logistics, and otherservices need to be implemented before a technical solution can beapplied. Display units (CRT, LCD, LED monitors), Processors (CPUchips, RAM), and audio components have different useful lives.Processors are most frequently out-dated (by software) and are morelikely to become "e-waste", while display units are most often replaced while working without repair attempts, dueto changes in wealthy nation appetites for new display technology.

An estimated 50 million tons of E-waste are produced each year. The USA discards 30 million computers each yearand 100 million phones are disposed of in Europe each year. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates thatonly 15-20% of e-waste is recycled, the rest of these electronics go directly into landfills and incinerators.[5]

According to a report by UNEP titled, "Recycling - from E-Waste to Resources," the amount of e-waste beingproduced - including mobile phones and computers - could rise by as much as 500 percent over the next decade insome countries, such as India.[6] The United States is the world leader in producing electronic waste, tossing awayabout 3 million tons each year.[7] China already produces about 2.3 million tons (2010 estimate) domestically,second only to the United States. And, despite having banned e-waste imports, China remains a major e-wastedumping ground for developed countries.[7]

Electrical waste contains hazardous but also valuable and scarce materials. Up to 60 elements can be found incomplex electronics.In the United States, an estimated 70% of heavy metals in landfills comes from discarded electronics.[8][9]

While there is agreement that the number of discarded electronic devices is increasing, there is considerabledisagreement about the relative risk (compared to automobile scrap, for example), and strong disagreement whethercurtailing trade in used electronics will improve conditions, or make them worse. According to an article inMotherboard, attempts to restrict the trade have driven reputable companies out of the supply chain, with unintendedconsequences.[10]

Page 3: Electronic Waste

Electronic waste 3

Global trade issues

Electronic waste is often exported to developingcountries.

4.5-volt, D, C, AA, AAA, AAAA, A23, 9-volt,CR2032 and LR44 cells are all recyclable in most

countries.

One theory is that increased regulation of electronic waste and concernover the environmental harm in mature economies creates an economicdisincentive to remove residues prior to export. Critics of trade in usedelectronics maintain that it is still too easy for brokers callingthemselves recyclers to export unscreened electronic waste todeveloping countries, such as China,[11] India and parts of Africa, thusavoiding the expense of removing items like bad cathode ray tubes (theprocessing of which is expensive and difficult). The developingcountries have become toxic dump yards of e-waste. Proponents ofinternational trade point to the success of fair trade programs in otherindustries, where cooperation has led to creation of sustainable jobs,and can bring affordable technology in countries where repair andreuse rates are higher.

Defenders of the trade in used electronics say that extraction of metalsfrom virgin mining has been shifted to developing countries. Recyclingof copper, silver, gold, and other materials from discarded electronicdevices is considered better for the environment than mining. Theyalso state that repair and reuse of computers and televisions hasbecome a "lost art" in wealthier nations, and that refurbishing has traditionally been a path to development. SouthKorea, Taiwan, and southern China all excelled in finding "retained value" in used goods, and in some cases have setup billion-dollar industries in refurbishing used ink cartridges, single-use cameras, and working CRTs. Refurbishinghas traditionally been a threat to established manufacturing, and simple protectionism explains some criticism of thetrade. Works like "The Waste Makers" by Vance Packard explain some of the criticism of exports of workingproduct, for example the ban on import of tested working Pentium 4 laptops to China, or the bans on export of usedsurplus working electronics by Japan.

Opponents of surplus electronics exports argue that lower environmental and labor standards, cheap labor, and therelatively high value of recovered raw materials leads to a transfer of pollution-generating activities, such as smeltingof copper wire. In China, Malaysia, India, Kenya, and various African countries, electronic waste is being sent tothese countries for processing, sometimes illegally. Many surplus laptops are routed to developing nations as"dumping grounds for e-waste".[4] Because the United States has not ratified the Basel Convention or its BanAmendment, and has few domestic federal laws forbidding the export of toxic waste, the Basel Action Networkestimates that about 80% of the electronic waste directed to recycling in the U.S. does not get recycled there at all,but is put on container ships and sent to countries such as China.[12][13][14][15] This figure is disputed as anexaggeration by the EPA, the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, and the World Reuse, Repair and RecyclingAssociation. Independent research by Arizona State University showed that 87-88% of imported used computers didnot have a higher value than the best value of the constituent materials they contained, and that "the official trade inend-of-life computers is thus driven by reuse as opposed to recycling".[16]

Guiyu in the Shantou region of China, Delhi and Bangalore in India as well as the Agbogbloshie site near Accra, Ghana have electronic waste processing areas.[12][17][18] Uncontrolled burning, disassembly, and disposal causes a variety of environmental problems such as groundwater contamination, atmospheric pollution, or even water pollution either by immediate discharge or due to surface runoff (especially near coastal areas), as well as health problems including occupational safety and health effects among those directly and indirectly involved, due to the methods of processing the waste. Thousands of men, women, and children are employed in highly polluting, primitive recycling technologies, extracting the metals, toners, and plastics from computers and other electronic

Page 4: Electronic Waste

Electronic waste 4

waste. Recent studies show that 7 out of 10 children in this region have too much lead in their blood.Proponents of the trade say growth of internet access is a stronger correlation to trade than poverty. Haiti is poor andcloser to the port of New York than southeast Asia, but far more electronic waste is exported from New York to Asiathan to Haiti. Thousands of men, women, and children are employed in reuse, refurbishing, repair, andremanufacturing, unsustainable industries in decline in developed countries. Denying developing nations access toused electronics may deny them sustainable employment, affordable products, and internet access, or force them todeal with even less scrupulous suppliers. In a series of seven articles for The Atlantic, Shanghai-based reporter AdamMinter describes many of these computer repair and scrap separation activities as objectively sustainable.[19]

Opponents of the trade argue that developing countries utilize methods that are more harmful and more wasteful. Anexpedient and prevalent method is simply to toss equipment onto an open fire, in order to melt plastics and to burnaway unvaluable metals. This releases carcinogens and neurotoxins into the air, contributing to an acrid, lingeringsmog. These noxious fumes include dioxins and furans.[20] Bonfire refuse can be disposed of quickly into drainageditches or waterways feeding the ocean or local water supplies.[15][21]

In June 2008, a container of electronic waste, destined from the Port of Oakland in the U.S. to Sanshui District inmainland China, was intercepted in Hong Kong by Greenpeace.[22] Concern over exports of electronic waste wereraised in press reports in India,[23][24] Ghana,[25][26][27] Ivory Coast,[28] and Nigeria.[29]

What becomes challenging for the United States, then, is balancing recycling discourses when considering how toimplement legislation measures as they manifest through divided interests. Those concerned solely about theenvironment would create discourse and those concerned about the economy would as well. It is not to say that thesediscourses don't necessarily agree about certain initiatives; both parties might benefit from the same piece oflegislation. That is, if the Environmental Commissioner in the United States put into action recycling legislation thatwas both sustainable and profitable, it could likely be a positive for both sides. However, because mostenvironmental and economic advocates are privy to certain facts about the industry, they would most likely bereluctant to side with any legislation that could either be detrimental to a foreign environment, or overly beneficial toa foreign industry or economy. By exporting e-waste to other countries, some firms in the United States may beavoiding the costs of homeland environmental degradation on one hand, but on the other are missing out onrecovering byproduct materials left after they are smelted. As a result, numerous perspectives articulate through bothquantitative and qualitative analysis, not only exemplifying how the differences between these perspectives arearticulated, but how electronic waste legislation seemingly takes both the environmental and the economic discourseinto consideration, albeit with more onus on the latter.

Page 5: Electronic Waste

Electronic waste 5

E-waste management

Recycling

Computer monitors are typically packed intolow stacks on wooden pallets for recycling

and then shrink-wrapped.[20]

Today the electronic waste recycling business is in all areas of thedeveloped world a large and rapidly consolidating business. Part of thisevolution has involved greater diversion of electronic waste fromenergy-intensive downcycling processes (e.g., conventional recycling),where equipment is reverted to a raw material form. This diversion isachieved through reuse and refurbishing. The environmental and socialbenefits of reuse include diminished demand for new products and virginraw materials (with their own environmental issues); larger quantities ofpure water and electricity for associated manufacturing; less packagingper unit; availability of technology to wider swaths of society due togreater affordability of products; and diminished use of landfills.

Audiovisual components, televisions, VCRs, stereo equipment, mobilephones, other handheld devices, and computer components containvaluable elements and substances suitable for reclamation, including lead,copper, and gold.

One of the major challenges is recycling the printed circuit boards fromthe electronic wastes. The circuit boards contain such precious metals as gold, silver, platinum, etc. and such basemetals as copper, iron, aluminum, etc. Conventional method employed is mechanical shredding and separation butthe recycling efficiency is low. Alternative methods such as cryogenic decomposition have been studied for printedcircuit board recycling,[30] and some other methods are still under investigation.

Consumer awareness efforts• In the US, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) urges consumers to dispose properly of end-of-life

electronics through its recycling locator at www.GreenerGadgets.org. This list only includes manufacturer andretailer programs that use the strictest standards and third-party certified recycling locations, to provideconsumers assurance that their products will be recycled safely and responsibly. CEA research has found that 58percent of consumers know where to take their end-of-life of electronics, and the electronics industry would verymuch like to see that level of awareness increase. Consumer electronics manufacturers and retailers sponsor oroperate more than 5,000 recycling locations nationwide and have vowed to recycle one billion pounds annuallyby 2016,[31] a sharp increase from 300 million pounds industry recycled in 2010.

• AddressTheMess.com is a Comedy Central pro-social campaign that seeks to increase awareness of the dangersof electronic waste and to encourage recycling. Partners in the effort include Earth911.com,ECOInternational.com, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Many Comedy Central viewers are earlyadopters of new electronics, and produce a commensurate amount of waste that can be directed towards recyclingefforts. The station is also taking steps to reduce its own environmental impact, in partnership withNativeEnergy.com, a company that specializes in renewable energy and carbon offsets.

• The Electronics TakeBack Coalition[32] is a campaign aimed at protecting human health and limitingenvironmental effects where electronics are being produced, used, and discarded. The ETBC aims to placeresponsibility for disposal of technology products on electronic manufacturers and brand owners, primarilythrough community promotions and legal enforcement initiatives. It provides recommendations for consumerrecycling and a list of recyclers judged environmentally responsible.[33]

• The Certified Electronics Recycler program[34] for electronic recyclers is a comprehensive, integrated management system standard that incorporates key operational and continual improvement elements for quality,

Page 6: Electronic Waste

Electronic waste 6

environmental and health and safety (QEH&S) performance.• The grassroots Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (svtc.org) focuses on promoting human health and addresses

environmental justice problems resulting from toxins in technologies.• Basel Action Network (BAN.org) is uniquely focused on addressing global environmental injustices and

economic inefficiency of global "toxic trade". It works for human rights and the environment by preventingdisproportionate dumping on a large scale. It promotes sustainable solutions and attempts to ban waste trade. Itrequires companies to be either ISO 14001 or R2 certified.

• Texas Campaign for the Environment (texasenvironment.org) works to build grassroots support for e-wasterecycling and uses community organizing to pressure electronics manufacturers and elected officials to enactproducer takeback recycling policies and commit to responsible recycling programs.

•• The World Reuse, Repair, and Recycling Association (wr3a.org) is an organization dedicated to improving thequality of exported electronics, encouraging better recycling standards in importing countries, and improvingpractices through "Fair Trade" principles.

• Take Back My TV[35] is a project of The Electronics TakeBack Coalition and grades television manufacturers tofind out which are responsible and which are not.

Processing techniques

Recycling the lead from batteries.

In developed countries, electronic waste processing usually firstinvolves dismantling the equipment into various parts (metal frames,power supplies, circuit boards, plastics), often by hand, butincreasingly by automated shredding equipment. A typical example isthe NADIN electronic waste processing plant in Novi Iskar, Bulgaria --the largest facility of its kind in Eastern Europe.[36][37] The advantagesof this process are the human's ability to recognize and save workingand repairable parts, including chips, transistors, RAM, etc. Thedisadvantage is that the labor is cheapest in countries with the lowesthealth and safety standards.

In an alternative bulk system,[38] a hopper conveys material for shredding into an unsophisticated mechanicalseparator, with screening and granulating machines to separate constituent metal and plastic fractions, which are soldto smelters or plastics recyclers. Such recycling machinery is enclosed and employs a dust collection system. Someof the emissions are caught by scrubbers and screens. Magnets, eddy currents, and trommel screens are employed toseparate glass, plastic, and ferrous and nonferrous metals, which can then be further separated at a smelter. Leadedglass from CRTs is reused in car batteries, ammunition, and lead wheel weights,[20] or sold to foundries as a fluxingagent in processing raw lead ore. Copper, gold, palladium, silver and tin are valuable metals sold to smelters forrecycling. Hazardous smoke and gases are captured, contained and treated to mitigate environmental threat. Thesemethods allow for safe reclamation of all valuable computer construction materials.[15] Hewlett-Packard productrecycling solutions manager Renee St. Denis describes its process as: "We move them through giant shredders about30 feet tall and it shreds everything into pieces about the size of a quarter. Once your disk drive is shredded intopieces about this big, it's hard to get the data off".[39]

An ideal electronic waste recycling plant combines dismantling for component recovery with increasedcost-effective processing of bulk electronic waste.Reuse is an alternative option to recycling because it extends the lifespan of a device. Devices still need eventualrecycling, but by allowing others to purchase used electronics, recycling can be postponed and value gained fromdevice use.

Page 7: Electronic Waste

Electronic waste 7

Benefits of recyclingRecycling raw materials from end-of-life electronics is the most effective solution to the growing e-waste problem.Most electronic devices contain a variety of materials, including metals that can be recovered for future uses. Bydismantling and providing reuse possibilities, intact natural resources are conserved and air and water pollutioncaused by hazardous disposal is avoided. Additionally, recycling reduces the amount of greenhouse gas emissionscaused by the manufacturing of new products. It simply makes good sense and is efficient to recycle and to do ourpart to keep the environment green.[40]

Electronic waste substances

Several sizes of button and coin cell with 2 9v batteriesas a size comparison. They are all recycled in many

countries since they contain lead, mercury andcadmium.

Some computer components can be reused in assembling newcomputer products, while others are reduced to metals that can bereused in applications as varied as construction, flatware, andjewelry.[39]

Substances found in large quantities include epoxy resins,fiberglass, PCBs, PVC (polyvinyl chlorides), thermosettingplastics, lead, tin, copper, silicon, beryllium, carbon, iron andaluminium.

Elements found in small amounts include cadmium, mercury, andthallium.[41]

Elements found in trace amounts include americium, antimony, arsenic, barium, bismuth, boron, cobalt, europium,gallium, germanium, gold, indium, lithium, manganese, nickel, niobium, palladium, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium,selenium, silver, tantalum, terbium, thorium, titanium, vanadium, and yttrium.

Almost all electronics contain lead and tin (as solder) and copper (as wire and printed circuit board tracks), thoughthe use of lead-free solder is now spreading rapidly. The following are ordinary applications:

Hazardous

Recyclers in the street in São Paulo, Brazil with old computers

• Americium:the radioactive source insmoke alarms. It is known to becarcinogenic.

• Mercury: found in fluorescent tubes(numerous applications), tilt switches(mechanical doorbells, thermostats),[42]

and flat screen monitors. Health effectsinclude sensory impairment, dermatitis,memory loss, and muscle weakness.Environmental effects in animals includedeath, reduced fertility, slower growthand development.

• Sulphur: found in lead-acid batteries.Health effects include liver damage,kidney damage, heart damage, eye and throat irritation. When released in to the environment, it can createsulphuric acid.

• BFRs: Used as flame retardants in plastics in most electronics. Includes PBBs, PBDE, DecaBDE, OctaBDE, PentaBDE. Health effects include impaired development of the nervous system, thyroid problems, liver problems.

Page 8: Electronic Waste

Electronic waste 8

Environmental effects: similar effects as in animals as humans. PBBs were banned from 1973 to 1977 on. PCBswere banned during the 1980s.

• Cadmium: Found in light-sensitive resistors, corrosion-resistant alloys for marine and aviation environments, andnickel-cadmium batteries. The most common form of cadmium is found in Nickel-cadmium rechargeablebatteries. These batteries tend to contain between 6 and 18% cadmium. The sale of Nickel-Cadmium batteries hasbeen banned in the European Union except for medical use. When not properly recycled it can leach into the soil,harming microorganisms and disrupting the soil ecosystem. Exposure is caused by proximity to hazardous wastesites and factories and workers in the metal refining industry. The inhalation of cadmium can cause severedamage to the lungs and is also known to cause kidney damage.[43]

• Lead: solder, CRT monitor glass, lead-acid batteries, some formulations of PVC.[44] A typical 15-inch cathoderay tube may contain 1.5 pounds of lead,[2] but other CRTs have been estimated as having up to 8 pounds oflead.[20]

• Beryllium oxide: filler in some thermal interface materials such as thermal grease used on heatsinks for CPUs andpower transistors,[45] magnetrons, X-ray-transparent ceramic windows, heat transfer fins in vacuum tubes, and gaslasers.

Generally non-hazardous

An iMac G4 that has been repurposed into a lamp (photographednext to a Mac Classic and a flip phone).

• Tin: solder, coatings on component leads.• Copper: copper wire, printed circuit board tracks,

component leads.• Aluminium: nearly all electronic goods using more

than a few watts of power (heatsinks), electrolyticcapacitors.

• Iron: steel chassis, cases, and fixings.• Germanium: 1950s–1960s transistorized electronics

(bipolar junction transistors).• Silicon: glass, transistors, ICs, printed circuit boards.• Nickel: nickel-cadmium batteries.• Lithium: lithium-ion batteries.• Zinc: plating for steel parts.• Gold: connector plating, primarily in computer

equipment.

References[1] WEEE CRT and Monitor Recycling (http:/ / www. executiveblueprints. com/ aboutweee/ WEEECRTandMonitor. htm)[2] Morgan, Russell (2006-08-21). "Tips and Tricks for Recycling Old Computers" (http:/ / www. smartbiz. com/ article/ articleprint/ 1525/ -1/

58). SmartBiz. . Retrieved 2009-03-17.[3] "Ghana e-Waste Country Assessmen" (http:/ / ewasteguide. info/ files/ Amoyaw-Osei_2011_GreenAd-Empa. pdf). Ghana e-Waste Country

Assessment. SBC e-Waste Africa Project. . Retrieved 29 August 2011.[4] Prashant, Nitya (2008-08-20). "Cash For Laptops Offers 'Green' Solution for Broken or Outdated Computers" (http:/ / green. tmcnet. com/

topics/ green/ articles/ 37567-cash-laptops-offers-green-solution-broken-outdated-computers. htm). Green Technology (Norwalk, Connecticut:Technology Marketing Corporation). . Retrieved 2009-03-17. In "Opinion" (http:/ / www. electronicsrecycling. org/ public/ NewsletterViewer.aspx?message=sent& id=40). National Center For Electronics Recycling News Summary (National Center For Electronics Recycling).2008-08-28. . Retrieved 2009-03-17.

[5] "Statistics on the Management of Used and End-of-Life Electronics" (http:/ / www. epa. gov/ epawaste/ conserve/ materials/ ecycling/manage. htm). US Environmental Protection Agency. . Retrieved 2012-03-13.

[6] Section, United Nations News Service (2010-02-22). "As e-waste mountains soar, UN urges smart technologies to protect health" (http:/ /www. un. org/ apps/ news/ story. asp?NewsID=33845& Cr=waste& Cr1). United Nations-DPI/NMD - UN News Service Section. . Retrieved2012-03-12.

Page 9: Electronic Waste

Electronic waste 9

[7] "Urgent need to prepare developing countries for surges in E-Waste" (http:/ / www. unep. org/ Documents. Multilingual/ Default.asp?DocumentID=612& ArticleID=6471). .

[8] Kozlan, Melanie (2010-11-02). "What is 'E-Waste' & How Can I Get Rid Of It?!" (http:/ / www. fourgreensteps. com/ infozone/ featured/features/ what-is-e-waste-a-how-can-i-get-rid-of-it). Four Green Steps. .

[9] "Poison PCs and toxic TVs" (http:/ / svtc. org/ wp-content/ uploads/ ppc-ttv1. pdf). .[10] Ingenthron, Robin (2011-03-31). "Why We Should Ship Our Electronic "waste" to China and Africa" (http:/ / www. motherboard. tv/ 2011/

3/ 26/ e-waste-recycling-exports-are-good). [Motherboard.tv]. .[11] Where computers go to die -- and kill (4/10/2006) (http:/ / www. salon. com/ news/ feature/ 2006/ 04/ 10/ ewaste)[12] Basel Action Network and Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (2002-02-25). "Exporting Harm: The High-Tech Trashing of Asia" (http:/ /

www. ban. org/ E-waste/ technotrashfinalcomp. pdf) (PDF). Seattle and San Jose. .[13] Chea, Terence (2007-11-18). "America Ships Electronic Waste Overseas" (http:/ / biz. yahoo. com/ ap/ 071118/ exporting_e_waste. html?.

v=3). Associated Press. .[14] Slade, Giles (2006). "Made To Break: Technology and Obsolescence in America" (http:/ / www. hup. harvard. edu/ catalog.

php?isbn=9780674025721). Harvard University Press. .[15] Carroll (January 2008). "High-Tech Trash" (http:/ / ngm. nationalgeographic. com/ ngm/ 2008-01/ high-tech-trash/ carroll-text. html).

National Geographic Magazine Online. .[16][16] "Product or Waste? Importation and End-of-Life Processing of Computers in Peru", Ramzy Kahhat and Eric Williams, Center for Earth

Systems Engineering and Management, Arizona State University, published Environmental Science and Technology June 2009.[17] "Activists Push for Safer E-Recycling" (http:/ / www. npr. org/ programs/ watc/ features/ 2002/ apr/ computers/ index. html). . Retrieved

2006-11-13.[18] "Computer age leftovers" (http:/ / www. denverpost. com/ perspective/ ci_3633138). Denver Post. . Retrieved 2006-11-13.[19] Minter, Adam. "Shanghai Scrap" (http:/ / shanghaiscrap. com/ ?p=6448). Wasted 7/7. The Atlantic. . Retrieved March 7, 2011.[20] Royte, Elizabeth (2005-08-01). "E-gad! Americans discard more than 100 million computers, cellphones and other electronic devices each

year. As "e-waste" piles up, so does concern about this growing threat to the environment." (http:/ / www. accessmylibrary. com/ coms2/summary_0286-9604019_ITM). Smithsonian Magazine (Smithsonian Institution). . Retrieved 2009-03-17.

[21] "Computer waste disposal in China" (http:/ / www. cbc. ca/ mrl3/ 23745/ thenational/ archive/ ewaste-102208. wmv) (WMV). CBC News. .[22] "Illegal e-waste exposed" (http:/ / www. greenpeace. org/ international/ news/ illegal-e-waste-exposed140708). Greenpeace International. .[23] "E-Trash Industry Poses Hazards to Workers" (http:/ / www. npr. org/ templates/ story/ story. php?storyId=11211916). .[24] "[[British Broadcasting Corporation (http:/ / news. bbc. co. uk/ 1/ hi/ programmes/ click_online/ 4341494. stm)]"]. BBC News. 2005-10-14. .

Retrieved 2010-01-03.[25] "Electronic Waste in Ghana" (http:/ / uk. youtube. com/ watch?v=pr1zQrXM_7s). YouTube. .[26] "Poisoning the poor – Electronic Waste in Ghana" (http:/ / www. greenpeace. org/ international/ news/ poisoning-the-poor-electroni).

Greenpeace International. .[27] "[[British Broadcasting Corporation (http:/ / news. bbc. co. uk/ 2/ hi/ africa/ 7543489. stm)]"]. BBC News. 2008-08-05. . Retrieved

2010-01-03.[28] "[[British Broadcasting Corporation (http:/ / news. bbc. co. uk/ 2/ hi/ technology/ 6187358. stm)]"]. BBC News. 2006-11-27. . Retrieved

2010-01-03.[29] "[[British Broadcasting Corporation (http:/ / news. bbc. co. uk/ 2/ hi/ africa/ 6193625. stm)]"]. BBC News. 2006-12-19. . Retrieved

2010-01-03.[30] Yuan, C., Zhang, H. C., McKenna, G., Korzeniewski, C., and Li, J. "Experimental Studies on Cryogenic Recycling of Printed Circuit

Board", International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Vol. 34, 2007, pp. 657–666[31] CEA - eCycle (http:/ / ecyclingleadershipinitiative. com/ index. html)[32] Home – Electronics TakeBack Coalition (http:/ / www. electronicstakeback. com)[33] "How to Find a Responsible Recycler" (http:/ / www. electronicstakeback. com/ recycling/ find_a_responsible_recycler_withmap. htm).

Electronics TakeBack Coalition. .[34] Default Parallels Plesk Panel Page (http:/ / www. certifiedelectronicsrecycler. com)[35] "Take Back My TV" (http:/ / www. takebackmytv. com). .[36] "40 Million BGN Invested In Bulgaria's 1st Appliances Recycle Plant" (http:/ / www. novinite. com/ view_news. php?id=117588). Sofia

News Agency. 2010-06-28. . Retrieved 2011-03-28.[37] "Bulgaria Opens Largest WEEE Recycling Factory in Eastern Europe" (http:/ / www. ask-eu. com/ Default. asp?Menue=142& Bereich=5&

SubBereich=16& KW=130& NewsPPV=8492). Ask-eu.com. 2010-07-12. . Retrieved 2011-03-28.[38] Audio and video - Recycling presentations - Sims Recycling Solutions (http:/ / simsrecycling. com/ news-and-resources/ audio-and-video)[39] Haffenreffer, David (2003-02-13). "Recycling, the Hewlett-Packard Way" (http:/ / www. accessmylibrary. com/ coms2/

summary_0286-22405423_ITM). Financial Times (CNN). . Retrieved 2009-03-17.[40] Benefits of Recycling (http:/ / www. ewastecenter. com/ benefits-of-recycling)[41] "Chemical fact sheet: Thallium" (http:/ / www. speclab. com/ elements/ thallium. htm). Spectrum Laboratories. . Retrieved 2008-02-02.[42] "Question 8" (http:/ / www. epa. gov/ dfe/ pubs/ comp-dic/ lca-sum/ ques8. pdf). .[43] . http:/ / www. lenntech. com/ periodic/ elements/ cd. htm#ixzz1MpuZHWfr.[44] "CollectiveGood and Environmental Issues" (http:/ / www. collectivegood. com/ environmental. asp). .

Page 10: Electronic Waste

Electronic waste 10

[45] Becker, Greg; Lee, Chris; Lin, Zuchen (July 2005). "Thermal conductivity in advanced chips: Emerging generation of thermal greases offersadvantages" (http:/ / www. apmag. com/ ). Advanced Packaging: 2–4. . Retrieved 2008-03-04.

Further reading• Hicks, C; Dietmara, R., Eugsterb, M. (2005). "The recycling and disposal of electrical and electronic waste in

China—legislative and market responses". Environmental Impact Assessment Review 25 (5): 459–471.doi:10.1016/j.eiar.2005.04.007. ISSN 01959255.

• "Scrapping the Hi-tech Myth: Computer waste in India" (http:/ / www. texasenvironment. org/ downloadit.cfm?DocID=31). India: Toxics Link. February 2003. Retrieved 25 March 2011.

• Ogunseitan, O.A., Schoenung, J.M., Saphores, J-D.M., and Shapiro, A.A. (2009). "The Electronics Revolution:From E-Wonderland to E-Wasteland.". Science 326: 670–671. doi:10.1126/science.1176929.

External links• RECYCLING – FROM E-WASTE TO RESOURCES (http:/ / www. unep. org/ PDF/ PressReleases/

E-Waste_publication_screen_FINALVERSION-sml. pdf) (UN Environmental Program, 2009, 120 pages)• EMPA E-waste Guide (http:/ / ewasteguide. info)• World Reuse, Repair and Recycling Association (http:/ / www. wr3a. org)• Carroll, Chris (January 2008). "High-Tech Trash" (http:/ / ngm. nationalgeographic. com/ 2008/ 01/

high-tech-trash/ carroll-text. html). National Geographic Society.• Disposal of Old Computer Equipment (http:/ / www. nysscpa. org/ cpajournal/ 2004/ 704/ essentials/ p70. htm)• WEEE Forum (http:/ / www. weee-forum. org)

Page 11: Electronic Waste

Article Sources and Contributors 11

Article Sources and ContributorsElectronic waste  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=512382278  Contributors: 3eb, 510bayarea, 78.26, A. B., AThomas203, Aa1717, Aafarrar, Achowat, Acuares, AfterMidnight, Agreeall, AidaSWilliams, Alan Liefting, Alansohn, Alatari, AlexHe34, Alexius08, Alexyoyo12345, Aliiishiiia, Allstarecho, Almcmurray, Ameliorate!, Anchoress, AndrewHowse,Andrwsc, Angela-la-la, Animeninjadog, Antony-22, AvWijk, Avasquez21, BFeely, Badagnani, Be-technical, Bearcat, Beland, Ben Ben, Ben.threadgold97, Berkoet, Bikeable, BjörnBergman,Bluefist, BorgQueen, BorisRecycler, Bunnyhop11, CanadianLinuxUser, ChgoProConnexion, Chowbok, Chrihern, ChrisHodgesUK, Cmcnicoll, CoR wikiwork, Comm12group, CoolGuy,Courcelles, Csigabi, Cst17, Cut1664, DARTH SIDIOUS 2, DASonnenfeld, DVdm, Dburdenbates, Dcnewkirk, Denisarona, Descoffey, Digitalreporter, Dmaslo, Doctor C, Douseenow, Dr.Senghan Podvano, Drenmark, Drmies, Ds.diana, Dycedarg, Dysepsion, EWasteUK, Eastlaw, Editor at Large, Edumpaustralia, Edward, Efe, Electronic Recycling, Elproximus, ElzbthMllr,Eugene-elgato, Ewastealliance, Ewaters17, Excirial, FF2010, Femto, Firsfron, Footballer99, Forenti, Fragglet, Frank212202, Free Bear, Funandtrvl, Gilesslade, Gkornbluh, Glacialfox, GogoDodo, GoingBatty, Goodasgold87, Grafen, Greenscene88, Ground Zero, Gurch, Hbent, Hestro47, Hu12, Hytar, I already forgot, IainUK, Icairns, Ifny, Igoldste, J.delanoy, J04n, J36miles, JaGa,Jake Wartenberg, Jarble, Jennavecia, JeremyMcClean, Jesse Viviano, JetBlast, Jhuygens11, Jianjames, Jj137, John, John J. Bulten, JohnnyB256, Jojalozzo, JordoCo, Jpuckett5788, Kaileym,Kozuch, Kungming2, Kvng, Kwiki, L Kensington, LachlanA, LcawteHuggle, Lead holder, Leonard^Bloom, Lightmouse, LilHelpa, Linden.940, Lizziegee, Ll0l00l, Looneyman, Loren.wilton,Lotje, MBisanz, Magog the Ogre, Marlenenapoli, Martha p, Martvefun, MeekSaffron, Mentifisto, Merreeves, MikeLynch, Mitch Ames, Modernist, Mogilny89, MonoAV, Moondyne, MrStephen, Msaling, Mtneuville, Mumiemonstret, Mumonkan, MyTigers, Myshkin, NHRHS2010, Natalie Erin, NawlinWiki, Neparis, Nick C, Nightkey, Nihiltres, Northamerica1000, November25,Ntiles, Old Moonraker, Omkar rangle, Orphan Wiki, Otileunam, Oxymoron83, PCHS-NJROTC, Panandwendy, Passion4purple1995, Paul A, Persian Poet Gal, Peter Karlsen, PhilKnight, PhilipTrueman, Pinethicket, Pinkadelica, Polly, PranksterTurtle, Prettyling, Professorflipwig, Proofreader77, Public Menace, QuiteUnusual, R'n'B, RTG, Rabbit67890, Raliugar, Ramu50, Raven4x4x,Rcawsey, Reach Out to the Truth, Recyclingbod, Rednatski, Remi0o, Retroworks, Rifleman 82, Rjwilmsi, Rllerner, Rob poston, RockMFR, Rockluvercrazygirl, Rockysmile11, Rsteif, Rydia,SJP, Sadalmelik, Sausie, Scientus, Scooter20, Seaphoto, Searchme, Shadm001, Shell Kinney, Shervinafshar, Shuipzv3, Silverxxx, Simesa, Siselw, Slowbuddha, Sm8900, Smartse, Spellcast,Spitfire, SriMesh, Srice13, Steve 1521, Subhadeepgayen, SudoGhost, Sumivec, Sunmarsh, T-borg, T1Rex, Tabby, Taikanatur, Taroaldo, TastyPoutine, Tbonnie, Tejal patil, Teknikingman,Tela09, Telecineguy, The Nameless, The Thing That Should Not Be, The cattr, Thingg, Thousandways, Tide rolls, Timothy Cooper, TinyMark, Tommy2010, Tpcr, Tragdoor, Trevi99, Triona,Trudog, Trustisadrtywrd, TyA, Urdna, User A1, Van helsing, Veeraudrey, Veinor, Vernon39, Versageek, Victorgrigas, VinylInfo, Viriditas, Vortech, Vortexrealm, Vovk, Wavelength, WayKurat,Weirdy, Wellcan, Weo8, Winhunter, Witsinc, Wolverine5675, Wongm, Wsvlqc, Wtshymanski, Xiahou, Xmoogle, Yashsite, Yerpo, Yintan, Yuckhil, Zakidesign, Zhou Yu, Zodon, Zs, Zzyzx11,662 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and ContributorsImage:ewaste-pile.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Ewaste-pile.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: AvWijkImage:India Victor Grigas 2011-12.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:India_Victor_Grigas_2011-12.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: User:VictorgrigasImage:India Victor Grigas 2011-14.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:India_Victor_Grigas_2011-14.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: User:VictorgrigasImage:India Victor Grigas 2011-13.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:India_Victor_Grigas_2011-13.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: User:VictorgrigasFile:Brokencircuitboard2011.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Brokencircuitboard2011.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0  Contributors:GuinnogImage:Ewaste-crtkid.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Ewaste-crtkid.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 2.0  Contributors: Original uploader wasThousandways at en.wikipediaFile:Batteries comparison 4,5 D C AA AAA AAAA A23 9V CR2032 LR44 matchstick-1.jpeg  Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Batteries_comparison_4,5_D_C_AA_AAA_AAAA_A23_9V_CR2032_LR44_matchstick-1.jpeg  License: Creative CommonsAttribution-Sharealike 3.0  Contributors: Lead holderImage:Recycling Computers.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Recycling_Computers.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Original uploader wasDefianceFalcon at en.wikipediaFile:Recycling lead in a lead-acid battery recovery facility.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Recycling_lead_in_a_lead-acid_battery_recovery_facility.jpg  License:Creative Commons Attribution 2.0  Contributors: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) from USAFile:Button cells and 9v cells (3).png  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Button_cells_and_9v_cells_(3).png  License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0  Contributors: -File:Recyclers with old computers São Paulo March 2012.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Recyclers_with_old_computers_São_Paulo_March_2012.jpg  License:Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0  Contributors: User:VictorgrigasFile:Repurposed Imac.JPG  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Repurposed_Imac.JPG  License: Public Domain  Contributors: t3xt (talk)

LicenseCreative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported//creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/