Environmental Hazards of Electronic Waste
The Negative Environmental Impacts of E-waste Disposal
Nov 24, 2008
New technology breeds electronic obsolescence, creating a growing e-waste environmental problem. Even electronic waste recycling can have negative environmental impacts.
The electronics manufacturing industry, one of the largest and fastest growing in the world is also one of the most innovative sectors, constantly creating and utilizing new technology, with the result that product obsolescence is inbuilt. These facts combine to give an ever increasing stream of waste products with harmful environmental consequences.
Growth of Electronic Waste
- Vital Waste Graphics by Elaine Baker et al and published by the United Nations Environmental Programme in October 2004 states that “It is estimated that there are over a billion personal computers in the world at present. In developed countries these have an average life span of only 2 years. In the United States alone there are over 300 million obsolete computers.”
- An article published in the CEA Market Research Report in March 2008, titled “Trends in CE Reuse, Recycle and Removal” estimates that in the United States, “During 2007, consumers report removing 289 million units of TVs, VCRs, Cell Phones, Desktop PCs, Laptop PCs and PC monitors from their homes.”
- The report goes on to show that with the advent of widespread Digital TV in the US, due in 2009, that over 60 million TV sets will become obsolete by 2010, adding further to the electronic waste stream.
- Figures from Toxic Tech: Not in our Backyard, published by Greenpeace in February 2008 show that of the 8.7 million tons of waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) produced in the European Union, only 25% of it gets collected and treated. They also show that only 20% of the e-waste in the United States gets separated for further processing or recovery.
- High Tech Trash by Elizabeth Grossman, published by Island Press in 2006 states “The cathode ray tubes (CRTs) in computer and television monitors contain lead - which is poisonous to the nervous system - as do circuit boards. Mercury - like lead - a neurotoxin, is used in flat-panel display screens. Some batteries and circuit boards contain cadmium, known to be a carcinogen.”
- The fact sheet “Electronic Product Management Issues” published by the California Integrated Waste Management Board in February 2002 states “When disposed in landfills, these products have the potential to contribute significant levels of toxic materials to the leachate produced in landfills. These include lead, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), mercury, cadmium, arsenic, zinc, chromium, and selenium.”
- Toxic Tech: Not in our Backyard states “PVC is a chlorinated plastic used in some electronics products and for insulation on wires and cables. Chlorinated dioxins and furans are released when PVC is produced or disposed of by incineration.”
Exporting Electronic Waste
As the amount of e-waste grows, the problems associated with electronic waste are being recognized. Most developed countries are now legislating on e-waste disposal and encouraging recycling and reuse of old electronic products. Unfortunately, even recycling of electronic waste is causing environmental problems.
- Toxic Tech: Not in our Backyard states that “The major issue for both the US and the EU to address is that e-waste is currently exported to less industrialized countries such as China and India, where recycling and recovery takes place with little regard for the human health or environmental consequences.”
- Exporting Harm: The High-Tech Trashing of Asia by Jim Puckett et al and published by the Basel Action Network in 2002 states “Informed recycling industry sources estimate that between 50 to 80 percent of the wastes collected for recycling are not recycled domestically at all, but very quickly placed on container ships bound for destinations like China.”
The copyright of the article Environmental Hazards of Electronic Waste in Waste Reduction is owned by Laurence O'Sullivan. Permission to republish Environmental Hazards of Electronic Waste in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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