Environmental Approach to Electronic Waste
E-Waste Environmental Problems Needs a Full Life Cycle Solution
Feb 18, 2009
E-waste is a growing environmental problem which does not lend itself to traditional waste management solutions. An integrated life cycle approach to e-waste is needed.
Because of its complexity, very short life cycle and the toxic substances used in its manufacture, electronic waste needs a more integrated waste management approach to avoid environmental problems associated with its disposal. A full life cycle approach to electronic waste, involving manufacturers, governments, state bodies, international organizations and the consumer offers the best hope of limiting e-waste environmental problems.
Extended Producer Responsibility
There is no doubt that the major solution to the environmental problems of electronic waste lies with the original manufacturer of electronic goods.
- In Exporting Harm: The High-Tech Trashing of Asia, published by the Basel Action Network, the author Jim Puckett says, “If E-waste were not hazardous, it would still be a nuisance but it would no longer be deadly and destructive to human health and viable ecosystems. If the manufacturing was done cleanly without hazardous inputs and processes, it would be possible to overcome the worst of the high-tech environmental nightmare”.
- In Vol 25 of Waste Management & Research in June 2007, the article “The Challenge of Electronic Waste Management in Developing Countries” calls for, “The implementation of ‘extended producer responsibility’ obliging producers to cover the cost of collection, recycling and disposal. Their responsibility will include using designs beneficial to recycling, choosing non-toxic, non-hazardous substances and recyclable materials and providing information to aid recycling”.
- In a paper titled “Recycling Computers and Electronic Equipment” by James McCarthy and published by the Congressional Research Unit in July 2002 the author states, “Under “extended producer responsibility” (EPR), which is at the heart of the Asian and European proposals for regulation of e-waste, manufacturers and importers of electronic products would be held responsible for the management of those products at the end of their useful life”.
Reusing Electronic Products
Although electronic goods such as computers, cell phones and music players tend to have a short life span due to newer, more versatile products coming on the market, the original products can still provide a useful service to other consumers.
- The U.S. EPA factsheet “Electronics: A New Opportunity for Waste Prevention, Reuse, and Recycling”, published in June 2001 states, “Donating electronics for reuse extends the lives of valuable products and keeps them out of the waste management system for a longer time. Reuse, in addition to being an environmentally preferable alternative, also benefits society.”
- Islands in the Wastestream by Jim Lynch and published by Compumentor in Dec 2004 says, “Computers for Schools Canada is a functioning proof-of-concept for non-commercial computer reuse, already supplying 25% of computers in Canadian schools, and also supplying computers to Canadian nonprofits. Canada is far ahead of the US in this field”.
- Best Management Practices For Electronic Waste, published by the Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health San Jose, California April 2004 states that, “Giving reusable equipment to nonprofits or schools can provide tax deductions to the donor and assist in bridging the digital divide. It is important to determine if the potential donation will be usable to the recipient and that they will have a mechanism to manage the equipment at the end of its extended life”.
- To encourage the reuse of electronic goods, software vendors are going to have to adapt intellectual property rights legislation. A "WasteWise Update" from the U.S. EPA entitled “Electronics Reuse and Recycling”, issued in Oct 2000 says, “Due to copyright issues, operating systems—such as WordPerfect® or Microsoft Windows®—are often removed from computers prior to donation. Many schools and nonprofit organizations do not have the resources to purchase new software. As a result, these “empty” computers are essentially useless to them”.
The copyright of the article Environmental Approach to Electronic Waste in Waste Reduction is owned by Laurence O'Sullivan. Permission to republish Environmental Approach to Electronic Waste in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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