Recycling

This document is intended to inform and spread awareness of an easily avoidable environmental hazard that is quickly becoming a problem for our environment. Electronic waste, also known as E-waste, are equipment that are no longer usable or wanted but just get thrown away rather than recycled. E-waste is accumulating at a frightening pace as the demands for new technology are always increasing and product lifespans continue to decrease. E-Waste only represents 2% of the trash in United States landfills, however it equates to 70% of the overall toxic waste. From the 50 million tons of the E-waste generated each year, only about 10% will be recycled, this is very unfortunate because many computers, batteries, and other electronic devices contain   hazardous materials such as cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, PVC plastic and brominated flame retardant. Computers or television displays (CRTs) contain an average of 6 pounds of lead each, constituting 40% of all lead and 70% of all heavy metals found in landfills. It does not take much lead or mercury to easily contaminate an area’s soil or water supply.   Lead can cause damage to the central and peripheral nervous systems, blood system and kidneys in humans.
More unfortunate news is about 80% of America's E-waste is exported to Asia, and several 3rd world countries, where scavengers burn these electronics to extract gold, copper,   and other valuables. China, Brazil, and Mexico are facing a large rise in environmental and health damage from e-waste, and its’ burning. This burning releases a massive amounts of toxins into the air, that spreads far and wide poisoning a large amount of the environment with lead and aerosolized chemicals. Put simply, it is in your best interest, as well as everyone else's best interest, that you recycle your electronic goods that you no longer intend to use. Today, when an electronic item breaks, it is often perceived to be more cost-effective to discard it and replace it with a new,...