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E-waste
BY JULI A GUERRA A RIELE GOODE
What is your role and are gadget makers helping? Summary
giants should take more responsibility towards designing products and programs that are more sustainable. As consumers, our society needs to make an effort at prolonging the lifespans of electronic devices.
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he amount of e-waste has skyrocketed in the last 30 years, representing 20% of America’s trash in landfills and 70% of toxic waste materials. This phenomenon is a result of rapid technological advances and high demand from consumers. E-waste contains thousands of different components, including hazardous materials that contribute to vast amounts of pollution. In the 1980s, developed countries would export their e-waste to developing countries where the ‘recycling’ costs were cheaper and the laws less strict towards protecting the environment and their people. After a public outcry, the 1989 Basel Convention made the practice illegal, yet e-waste from developed countries continues to be exported to countries such as China, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Nigeria, Ghana, and Brazil, to name a few. As leaders in innovation, technology
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last 30 years, representing 20% of America’s trash in landfills and 70% of toxic waste materials
E-waste contains thousands of different components, including hazardous materials that contribute to vast amounts of pollution
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Introduction When was the last time you updated your iPhone?
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ccording to Greenpeace International, that was probably within the last two years. The speedy lifespan of electronic devices is a result of rapid technological innovations and high consumer demand for the latest trends. Technology giants have only encouraged this demand by designing inefficient products. For example, the lithium-ion battery in your cell phone loses about 20% of its capacity after 1,000 charge cycles. Getting a replacement battery can be costly and take several weeks to order, plus you’ll lose all your data. So it’s often easier for consumers to frequently throw away their electronic devices, generating the world’s largest type of municipal waste, known as ‘e-waste’.
The lithium-ion battery in your cell phone loses about 20% of its capacity after 1,000 charge cycles.
What is e-waste? E-waste, short for electronic waste, can be defined as any outdated or obsolete appliance or electronic device found in your home or office. This e-waste is usually not properly disposed of. Common types of e-waste include television and computer monitors, cell phones, and printers, with computers and cell phones as the biggest culprits as consumers replace these items the most frequently. E-waste contains thousands of different materials some of such are heavy toxic chemicals, such lead, and hazardous chemicals, such as brominated flame retardants. If not properly disposed of, toxins from e-waste can enter the soil, air, and water supplies.
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E-waste as a very broad term
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he term e-waste is a very broad definition that covers a wide range of electronic devices that are composed of thousands of different components, some of which are hazardous materials. What constitutes specifically as e-waste can vary between different countries and even cities. For example, in 1995, the EPA enacted the universal waste rule to exempt certain widely generated waste products, such as thermostats and fluorescent lamps, even though they contain hazardous components. Below is a partial list with some widely accepted types of e-waste: n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
Desk computer monitors with LCD screens Laptop computers with LCD screens Portable DVD players with LCD screens Televisions with LCD screens Plasma televisions Computer keyboards and mice Cathode ray tubes (CRTs) Cash registers and oscilloscopes containing CRTs Televisions containing CRTs Telephones, cell phones, and answering machines Video cassettes Calculators Microwaves Printers, copiers and fax machines VCRs Cable/satellite Game consoles Converter boxes
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How Much e-Waste is Actually out There? The amount of e-waste has skyrocketed in the last 30 years, representing 20% of the US’s trash in landfills and 70% of toxic waste materials. According to a U.N. study, 41.8 million tons of “e-waste” were dumped around the globe in 2014 and only an estimated 6.5 million tons were taken for recycling. The United States and China were the chief contributors with U.S at 11.7 million tons and China at 15.4 million tons. Global volumes of e-waste are likely to rise by more than 20 percent to 50 million tons in 2018 according to the same U.N study. These figures that we should not be proud of is huge and is increasing at an alarming rate.
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Mercury is particularly dangerous for the developing brain and central nervous systems in fetuses and young children. Are there Human Health and Environmental Issues with e-waste?
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n rechargeable batteries, printer inks, and photocopying machines, you will find cadmium, which can be absorbed through the inhalation of contaminated dust and fumes, as well as through food. Acute exposure will cause flu-like symptoms such as weakness, chills, fever, headaches, sweating, and muscular pain. Long-term exposure to cadmium can cause serious damage to the kidneys and bone structure. In some batteries and lightning components of LCDS there’s mercury, one of the most toxic but widely used metals in electronics. Mercury is a high volatile substance and once released into the G B R I o n l i n e . o r g /a r t i c l e s
atmosphere, it can transmit a global impact far beyond the location of its release. While mercury can be both inhaled and ingested, the most common way for it to reach humans is through bioaccumulation. In this case, mercury pollutes water bodies where it transforms into a highly toxic material that travels up to high levels in the food chain, mostly commonly in fish. Mercury is particularly dangerous for the developing brain and central nervous systems in fetuses and young children. There have been recent studies that have indicated that mercury exposure also contributes to cardiovascular and heart disease. 66
Long-term exposure to cadmium can cause serious damage to the kidneys and bone structure.
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Another common and hazardous material in electronic components is lead, which can be found in cathode ray tubes (CRT), a device used to display images. Even just short-term exposure can cause diarrhea, vomiting, convulsions, coma, and death. It is especially dangerous for young children because it can contribute to brain and blood disorders. In adults, it can damage the nervous, blood, and reproductive systems. Yet another hazardous material is brominated flame-retardants, which are used in circuit boards and plastic casings, make products more flame resistant. Since, they don’t break down easily, they remain in the environment for long periods of time. When incinerated, its particles can be found in the dust and air. Long-term exposure can cause impaired learning and memory functions, and even severe hormonal disorders. Fortunately, many electronic manufacturers have begun to phase out brominated flame-retardants because of their high toxicity. A major pollutant that is common in electrical devices is Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a chlorinated plastic used for insulation on wires and cables. When incinerated, PVC releases chlorinated dioxins and furans, which are extremely toxic even in low levels. With the U.S. creating large amounts of e-waste a year, with a very small percentage of it being adequately recycled. The remainder was trashed in either landfills or incinerators, creating vast amounts of pollution and toxic waste. In developing countries, the majority of those who work to ‘recycle’ e-waste are children, who are especially vulnerable to the affects of high levels of toxicity.
When incinerated, PVC releases chlorinated dioxins and furans, which are extremely toxic even in low levels. 7
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A short history on e-waste disposal
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n the 1980s, as the rise in consumer electronics rapidly began to grow, many countries found that they did not have the capacity or ability to properly dispose of vast amounts of hazardous waste. The solution for developed countries to export the e-waste to developing countries where the ‘recycling’ costs were cheaper and the laws less strict towards protecting the environment and their people. This lead to increased child labor and unethical working conditions for workers who were largely underpaid. When it was revealed that toxic landfills in Africa were full of trash imported from rich, developed countries there was
a huge public outcry. This led to the adoption of the 1989 Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, which made the dumping of e-waste to poorer countries illegal. Amongst its most important contributions has been to create a large body of technical guidelines on the management of specific waste streams designed for the use of governments at all levels. By the 1990s, the first e-waste recycling systems were being implemented in the US, EU, and Japan. The Basel Convention has also assisted developing countries with implementing the provisions of the convention
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The solution for developed countries to export the e-waste to developing countries where the ‘recycling’ costs were cheaper and the laws less strict towards protecting the environment and their people. through capacity building and training projects. However, the Basel Convention is non-bind, so while many countries have signed it, not all have ratified it, such as the United States.
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How is e-waste disposed of now?
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ess than 20% of e-waste is currently being recycled globally, raising concerns around the world about increasing amounts of pollution. E-waste continue to be exported legally and illegally from Europe and the Americas to developing countries. Since the first public outcry over e-waste landfills in Africa in the 1980s, there have been great strides towards phasing-out hazardous materials in electronic devices. For example, brands like Sony Ericsson, Nokia, Apple, that consist of more than 50% of the mobile market, have eliminated LESS THAN the use of brominated flame-retardants in their devices. However, there is still much to be improved upon in order to make the OF E-WASTE IS CURRENTLY BEING technology industry more sustainable.
20%
RECYCLED GLOBALLY
Here are some methods in which e-waste is currently disposed of around the world: Reuse When an electronic device’s life cycle is prolonged, it ultimately means that there’s less e-waste produced. Reusing a product can be done by either donation or by replacing products with spare parts. However, many old products still end up being exported to developing countries. The lifespans of electronic G B R I o n l i n e . o r g /a r t i c l e s
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BRANDS LIKE SONY ERICSSON, NOKIA, APPLE, THAT CONSIST OF MORE THAN 50% OF THE MOBILE MARKET, HAVE ELIMINATED THE USE OF BROMINATED FLAME-RETARDANTS IN THEIR DEVICES.
Children, who are especially vulnerable to hazardous materials, are often the ones to perform this work by hand with no gloves or face masks. Uninformed about the health risks, workers at e-waste sites are prone to skin rashes, cancer, weakening of the immune system, and respiratory, nerve, kidney, and brain damage. devices in developing countries is much longer than that of richer countries, but again, e-waste still ends up improperly disposed of in landfills scattered throughout the world. This makes reusing a tactic that moderates the problem but does not eliminate it.
often the ones to perform this work by hand with no gloves or face masks. Uninformed about the health risks, workers at e-waste sites are prone to skin rashes, cancer, weakening of the immune system, and respiratory, nerve, kidney, and brain damage. This is because the parents make such an unlivable wage that the children have to be pulled out from school and sent to work to pay off the parent’s debt and gain enough money for the family. This starts a cycle of poverty where the family has the inability to come back on top from this set back.
Recycle In developed countries, recycling is performed in purpose-built recycling plants under controlled conditions with highly trained staff. By recycling 1 million laptops, the US saves the energy equivalent of electricity used by 3,657 households. Despite this, only 29% of e-waste generated in the US is recycled. Many developing countries, in contrast, use rudimentary methods to recycle their e-waste and have no environmental standards. Children, who are especially vulnerable to hazardous materials, are
Incineration A common waste treatment practice throughout the world is incineration. In developing countries, this practice is done openly, releasing heavy metals, such as lead, cadmium and mercury into the air as ashes and dust. 10
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What can we do about this?
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record number of 54 million metric tons of e-waste being dumped worldwide was recorded in 2019. E-waste has rose by 21% in just the past 5 years. This practice continues despite stricter regulations and the fact that many of the components of e-waste can be readily re-used or recycled. For every 1 million cell phones that are recycled, 33 lbs of palladium, 35,274 lbs of copper, 772 lbs of silver, and 75 lbs of gold can be recovered. Yet only 12.5% of e-waste is currently being recycled. Toxic chemical from e-waste is still leaching into the land and being released into the atmosphere, impacting communities worldwide. In order to solve this issue, there has to be a full transformation of the way in which our society consumes and disposes of e-waste. First, technology giants need to take responsibility for their end-of-life products. Take-back programs should be created by technology giants to offer free and convenient recycling of their products to all their customers. Mobile phone companies such as Nokia and Apple have already developed extensive take-back programs, yet there is still very few take back programs for other electronic device industries, such as televisions. Sony reports that it collects 53% of its olds products in Japan, where there is strict legislation, which is five times better than the global average for a major PC producer. The elimination of hazardous materials in electronic devices and the recycling of parts in the manufacturing process would a major step toward reducing e-waste. Recycling is already an extensive process, even when products are not full of hazardous materials. So if the technology giants designed more sustainable products, it would be easier and safer to recycle parts from old products into new ones. Designing electronic devices to be more durable and easy to repair would be a final step towards a sustainable future. G B R I o n l i n e . o r g /a r t i c l e s
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Also, slowing down the turnover rate of new technology would allow people to focus on fixing and bettering the gadgets they already own, rather than going out and buying new ones. The rate at which our society replaces electronic devices places a huge impact on resources, health, and the environment. As leaders in innovation, technology giants should give greater consideration to durability and ease of repair.
DESIGNING ELECTRONIC DEVICES TO BE MORE DURABLE AND EASY TO REPAIR WOULD BE A FINAL STEP TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.
Conclusion
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one of these solutions are simple, but it is possible to change our society to become more innovative, efficient, and sustainable. Technology giants could be on the forefront of this change by designing products that are more durable, fully recyclable, and eliminate the usage of hazardous materials. In addition, technology giants need to consider creating programs that for consumers to conveniently recycle their old devices. As consumers, our society needs to curb its demand for the latest trends by extending the lifespans of electronic devices. With consumer electronics projected to reach 2.5 billion units, toxic landfills and vast amounts of pollution are not the only issues that accompany this problem. There also needs to be considerations for responsibly sourced resources and the minimization of packaging materials. So, do you really need the recently released iPhone 7 Plus? 12
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Here are some ways to recycle your e-waste safely 1.Find an e-waste recycler certified through the Basel Action Network (BAN.org). BAN is a non-profit organization devoted to certifying e-Stewards, recyclers who are committed to safely and responsibly recycling electronics. 2.Check with your local government, schools, and universities for additional responsible recycling options 3.Check with your gadget manufacturer if they accept your old equipment 4.Check with your local electronic retail stores if they accept electronic waste 5.Donate your electronic equipment if it’s still working 6.Use the cloud. This will take the strain off the storage on your harddrive, allowing your gadget to last longer, while keeping your data stored safely. 7.Hire a company to make sure your data is wiped from the device before recycling, for easy personal safety management. 8.Check in with your local community to see if steps are being made by the municipality to recycle and get rid of e-waste easier and safer.
More ideas? Do you have any additional tips, suggestions or ideas for properly recycling e-waste? Visit gbrionline.org/ articles and post your ideas, suggestions and tips
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References and resources: 1 http://www.ban.org/ 2 http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100222081911.htm 3 http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/electronic-waste-developing-world 4 http://sites.nicholas.duke.edu/loribennear/2012/11/15/electronic-waste-disposal/ 5 http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/toxics/electronics/the-ewaste-problem/where-does-e-waste-end-up/
6 https://www.epa.gov/international-cooperation/cleaning-electronic-waste-e-waste 7 https://www.epa.gov/smm-electronics/moving-sustainable-electronics-forwardupdate-national-strategy-electronics
8 Why Your Gadgets' Batteries Degrade Over Time (popularmechanics.com)
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