E-Waste Explostion: A Growing Concern

E-Waste Explosion: A GROWING CONCERN In 2010, the United States disposed of some 2,439,000 ΤNS of waste generated from electronic devices. 2.500,000 2,000,000 1,500,000 649,000 1,000000 while an astounding of these tons were recycled, 1,790,000 500,000 ** were thrown in landfills or incinerated. These disused electronics have come to be referred to colloquially as "E-Waste." Office E-Waste The term "E-Waste" encompasses a broad range of disposed electronics, many of which can be found in the average office place. Some common E-Waste office items include: Hard copy devices (copiers, printers, fax machines, etc.). Computers. Monitors Keyboards and Mice TVs Mobile Devices Merely throwing these items away can be dangerous. Electronics often contain hazardous materials like: Lead Mercury A Cadmiun A Lithium A Brominated Flame Retardants. A Phosphorous Coatings. Proper E-Waste recycling isn't just a local concern; it's a national one. 2 Computers In 2010, some 423,000 ΤΟΝS of computers were thrown away in the U.S. 500,000 This places the recycling 255,000 400.000 tons were trashed or rate at 168,000 40%. incinerated. 300,000 tons were recycled. 200,000 100.000 Monitors & Hard Copy Devices Americans disposed of some 595,000 ΤONS of monitors and 290,000 tons of hard copy devices in 2010. τ0000401,000 tons of monitors were trashed; S00.000 194,000 400,000 193,00ο tons of hard copy devices were thrown in landfills, and tons were recycled. 300,000 97,000 200,000 tons were recycled. 100,000 This puts the recycling rate for both monitors and hard copy devices 33%. TVs Over ONE MILLION TONS TVs were discarded in 2010. 864,000 was put in landfills or incinerated. This leaves the recycling rate at B00.000- 17%. 500,000 181,000 of these tons were recycled. 400,000 200.000 Mobile Devices Americans disposed of nearly 20,000 TONS of mobile devices in 2010. 20000 This leaves the recycling rate at just 15000 Out of these only 2,240 12%. 10000 TONS was recycled 5000 Keyboards and Mice Nearly 68,000 They can be considered as the worst E-Waste offenders. tons of keyboards and mice from yesteryear were thrown away in 2010. 61,400 tons were treated as normal garbage. 70,000 The recycling rate on keyboards and mice is 50.000 50,000 10%. 40,000 30,000 6,460 tons were recycled 20.000 10,000 Profit To Ве Made" >> The growth in both office and consumer E-Waste has given rise to new business opportunities for some. Still, America recycled about Only 26% 3.5 million of Americans contribute to electronics recycling. tons of electronics (including medical and other non-domestic electronics) in 2010. Recycling these electronics generated some $5 billion in revenue. About 70% of recycled electronics are sold for scrap. This process employed over 30,000 workers. Nearly 10% are resold as functioning electronics. Roughly 18% are sold for further repair or as components. SOURCES metrofax [1]: http://blog.metrofax.com/reduce-e-waste-for-your-office/ [2]: http://www.epa.gov/wastes/conserve/materials/ecycling/docs/fullbaselinereport2011.pdf [3]: http://www.maine.gov/dep/waste/ewaste/ [4]: http://www.isri.org/CMDownload.aspx?Content- Key=b4870939-31cd-4110-9ce1-53ed3bc3a8bf&Contentitemkey=c46cd277-a9b2-41c6-bff3-d52e 88324ffb E-Waste Explosion: A GROWING CONCERN In 2010, the United States disposed of some 2,439,000 ΤNS of waste generated from electronic devices. 2.500,000 2,000,000 1,500,000 649,000 1,000000 while an astounding of these tons were recycled, 1,790,000 500,000 ** were thrown in landfills or incinerated. These disused electronics have come to be referred to colloquially as "E-Waste." Office E-Waste The term "E-Waste" encompasses a broad range of disposed electronics, many of which can be found in the average office place. Some common E-Waste office items include: Hard copy devices (copiers, printers, fax machines, etc.). Computers. Monitors Keyboards and Mice TVs Mobile Devices Merely throwing these items away can be dangerous. Electronics often contain hazardous materials like: Lead Mercury A Cadmiun A Lithium A Brominated Flame Retardants. A Phosphorous Coatings. Proper E-Waste recycling isn't just a local concern; it's a national one. 2 Computers In 2010, some 423,000 ΤΟΝS of computers were thrown away in the U.S. 500,000 This places the recycling 255,000 400.000 tons were trashed or rate at 168,000 40%. incinerated. 300,000 tons were recycled. 200,000 100.000 Monitors & Hard Copy Devices Americans disposed of some 595,000 ΤONS of monitors and 290,000 tons of hard copy devices in 2010. τ0000401,000 tons of monitors were trashed; S00.000 194,000 400,000 193,00ο tons of hard copy devices were thrown in landfills, and tons were recycled. 300,000 97,000 200,000 tons were recycled. 100,000 This puts the recycling rate for both monitors and hard copy devices 33%. TVs Over ONE MILLION TONS TVs were discarded in 2010. 864,000 was put in landfills or incinerated. This leaves the recycling rate at B00.000- 17%. 500,000 181,000 of these tons were recycled. 400,000 200.000 Mobile Devices Americans disposed of nearly 20,000 TONS of mobile devices in 2010. 20000 This leaves the recycling rate at just 15000 Out of these only 2,240 12%. 10000 TONS was recycled 5000 Keyboards and Mice Nearly 68,000 They can be considered as the worst E-Waste offenders. tons of keyboards and mice from yesteryear were thrown away in 2010. 61,400 tons were treated as normal garbage. 70,000 The recycling rate on keyboards and mice is 50.000 50,000 10%. 40,000 30,000 6,460 tons were recycled 20.000 10,000 Profit To Ве Made" >> The growth in both office and consumer E-Waste has given rise to new business opportunities for some. Still, America recycled about Only 26% 3.5 million of Americans contribute to electronics recycling. tons of electronics (including medical and other non-domestic electronics) in 2010. Recycling these electronics generated some $5 billion in revenue. About 70% of recycled electronics are sold for scrap. This process employed over 30,000 workers. Nearly 10% are resold as functioning electronics. Roughly 18% are sold for further repair or as components. SOURCES metrofax [1]: http://blog.metrofax.com/reduce-e-waste-for-your-office/ [2]: http://www.epa.gov/wastes/conserve/materials/ecycling/docs/fullbaselinereport2011.pdf [3]: http://www.maine.gov/dep/waste/ewaste/ [4]: http://www.isri.org/CMDownload.aspx?Content- Key=b4870939-31cd-4110-9ce1-53ed3bc3a8bf&Contentitemkey=c46cd277-a9b2-41c6-bff3-d52e 88324ffb