E-waste poses are particular threat to the environment if it is not disposed in an appropriate way. Electronics consist of many components that are considered toxic and are not biodegradable. E-waste is one of the fastest growing segments of waste. In the United States alone this type of waste is increasing by three to five percent each year. The rapid growth in e-waste can be attributed to both economic growth and technological advances. Electronics are becoming obsolete at such rates that it is both cheaper and more convenient to buy new electronic products than to upgrade old ones. Electronic waste poses an international environmental threat because e-waste is often exported from developed countries to developing ones. E-waste shipped to countries in Asia and Africa often ends up being dumped into streams and fields or burned, releasing heavy metals into the air and water.
The exportation of e-waste was first addressed at the 1989 Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal. The Basel Convention was an international treaty designed to reduce the shipment of hazardous waste between nations; in particular it is meant to prevent the shipment of wastes to developing countries. The Basel Convention was first drafted in response to the outrage from the international community when it was revealed that hazardous waste was being shipped to developing countries as a cheap way to get rid of the wastes.
The United States has yet to ratify the treaty established by the Basel Convention, and continues to export its e-waste to less developed countries. Up to 80% of scrap electronics from the UNited States is exported to third world countries. The United States is currently a member of the Basel Action Network's Hall of Shame, I believe that this is unacceptable and a national policy on e-waste disposal must be developed as well as the US ratification of the Basel Convention.
I can remember that my church collected old cell phones to be recycled. Once again, America needs more encouragement to recycle, and this can be done not through means of asking, but by making it just as easy as throwing the cell phones out.
ReplyDeleteI read something that said the US Postal Service now is running a recycling program for electronics. It said that as of 2008, 1,500 post offices will provide free envelopes to mail back small electronics such as inkjet cartridges, PDAs, digital cameras and MP3 players. USPS started the program in 10 areas across the country, including Washington, D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles and San Diego. It is gradually starting to expand to other areas as well.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both of you that recycling our used electronics is the answer to the e-waste problem, however, many of the electronics collected through recycling programs still end up being exported to other countries. It is necessary to develop a federal policy that would prohibit this action from occuring. Some States have taken the innitiative, such as California, to implement programs that are enforced and effective at recycling used electronics and keeping the hazardous wastes out of landfills. The problem I am addressing here is not merely about people throwing away their electronics, it is what actually happens to electroniocs that are being collected for recycling purposes. These electronics are being exported out of our country to other countries to deal with.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I hate to be the bearer of bad news, I really don't think there is any "safe way" to get rid of e-waste. In order for use to be responsible in our disposal of such waste, we need to start at the source - wouldn't it be nice if we could find ways to make certain electronics NOT harmful to the environment?
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