What is e-waste ... and how to dispose of it?
Successful Mobile Phone Recycling in UK
E-waste is simply short for electronic-waste, that is, defunct electronic technology, or that which is outdated, outmoded, no longer used ... dinosaurs!
When Earth Day first dawned in 1970, optimistic environmentalists predicted emerging technologies would help reduce our reliance on coal, oil, insecticides and other pollutants, but 38 years later, a big part of the problem appears to now be the technology itself.
Further evidence of this can be seen on James Rickard’s post, where a '...new kind of e-fish is emerging in rivers everywhere' and he asks; 'what are we throwing away?' .... [here]
Clearly more evidence of where one person can - and often does - make a big difference!
A sea of computers, monitors television housings and other exported electronic waste dumped at a swamp in Lagos, Nigeria. But what happens “downstream” in irresponsible recycling practices?.
Concerned about the impact to local regions, campaigns to increase awareness about recycling cell phones, music players, handheld gaming consoles and other electronics are being launched around the globe.
The word is out... Tossing millions of computers, cell phones, and TVs into regular garbage landfills is bad news and posing serious environmental and health risks across the planet.
The good news is that most electronic components can now be reused, recycled, and diverted from the waste stream, if consumers have the right information-that's where online E-waste information is coming into its own. For example, computer recyclers strip down the machine and extract, copper, lead, zinc, and gold from the innards of our beloved pooters. With resources running low, I would not be surprised if silicon outstrips gold in its market value per kilo very soon?
With mobile phone sales projected to exceed one billion by 2009, the challenge of what to do with the old handsets becomes more critical each year as they become a major polluting force on the planet’s surface … and suggestions include donating old cell phones to new initiatives like Australia's Mobile Muster, charities [disabled leagues], schools, old people’s homes and companies may welcome your old mobiles? Some recycle and some even re-market old cell phones; like RMS Communications Group in US, who are fast becoming the new-age conscientious trend setters in this niche market.
According the EPA, the US alone currently plays host to around 500 million obsolete, broken or otherwise unused cell phones, with about 130 million more added each year. This equates to around 65,000 tonnes of waste per year! Less than 2 % of mobile phones are currently being recycled through refurbishment and resale to developing country consumers in Latin American and Asian countries, or disassembled for gold and other parts, which raises the question of the other 98% that must be either sitting around in landfills, or in peoples bottom drawers?
New Ways to dispose of your e-waste.
Recycling Australian Mobile Phones
• Learn where to pass on, donate or sell your old equipment - look in your neighbourhood for 'e-waste re-cycling' programs. Search online for 'e-waste recyclers’ in your local area - MOBILE MUSTER is currently running a free pick-up campaign - use link or call on the number above. Google other mobile Phone recyclers (web-list of some results shown below)... Check local councils, special schools, global green groups like WWF (who ship old phones to emerging third world countries), try local and state emergency services for donations etc...
• Learn how to recycle rechargeable cell phone batteries - to keep heavy metals out of landfills. Bury old batteries in your back garden, or look for recyclers that have taken the new 'Electronics Recycler's Pledge' - a searchable map is often provided at your local council or E-waste centre .
• Understand why you should recycle your electronics - Electronic equipment contains toxic materials, including lead, cadmium, and mercury, which seriously pollutes the soil and ground water when disposed of in landfills in large quantities. For example, old computer and television monitors with cathode ray tubes (CRTs) contain, on average, 2-4kg of lead and are currently hitting the landfills across the globe in alarming numbers as we scramble for LED screens.
The EPA says electronic products are the largest single source of lead in municipal solid waste (latest estimates indicate that nearly 3 million tons of consumer electronic waste was generated in 2003 alone). Cell phone batteries, particularly older ones, often also contain toxic metals such as nickel and cadmium.
• When you can fix your equipment yourself - for example, many people don't realise they can upgrade their computer's storage space using tools right on the computer to free up space on the hard drive or that you can use your old hard drive and box, but upgrade the motherboard and ram capacity without having to buy a new system. If your cell phone battery isn't holding a charge, simply getting a new battery may fix the problem.
• Pay for repairs when you can - for example, large TVs and models less than 3 years old, often can be repaired in a cost-effective way.
• Learn how to protect your identity - before you dispose of equipment by erasing identifiable information.
Learn more about e-waste Recycling at:
AUSTRALIA WIDE :
MOBILE MUSTER
e-waste facilities
Oz Society for Enviro
recycle-your-mobile
VICTORIA : AMTA.org
BRISBANE: ccnonline.org.au
cpqld.org.au
Sources and Photo: ENN News, Greenchoise.org, Laos Weekly News and Wikipeadia
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it is hard to comprehehnd how MASSIVE this problem is, thanks for all the info.
awesome post, as always.
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sigh... it's a tough, tough problem...
Enviro Warrior
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It is massive ... that's the illusion I think. We think that our little 'chuck-out' couldn't possibly matter and yet add it to all the others... and well, you know HUGE PROBLEM CHOKING THE PLANETS LANDFILLS faster than you can dial 000, 999 or even 911.
I am thrilled that Mobile Muster and other initiatives are finally 'catching on to it' and taking action ... now I hope everyone considers them an option, too?
Talk about rain *chuckle* and just when I was doing 'Water' in my latest D/post... what a dream! Floods everywhere, I hope you are all getting some south of the border too?
L
Enviro Warrior
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Indeed!
That's where that picture comes from above in Lagos.. first world trash initially sold to thrid world countries - before they woke up. *shaking my head*
These days though, I've heard that they are doing a thriving 'scrap metal' business and selling it back to silicon valley?
There are kilos of useful metals in computers and many 'back-yard' enthusiasts are catching on. One guy I know makes about $600 'pocket money' every three months in this way.
In his spare time (after School) he collects all the old computers and extracts all the metals (and gold!) out of them. He sells the plastics he can (not are all yet recyclable), but all the metals are bought back by scrap metal dealers - especially copper, cadmium and lead... the gold he keeps for himself... *chuckle* smart resourceful kind of lad
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its a vicious cycle!
Enviro Warrior
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Probably because - for the most part - it is machines that build machines these days with cheap, uneducated labour used where absolutely necessary (like the old sweat shops of the past) ... it has always been the Liberal party's dream and the last lot did a good job of taking us back to the 14th century, certainly where educationa nd health were concerned.
Very few "ludites" remain with skilled hands these days. Most men have transformed into hybrid versions with push-button proclivities ... with the exceptions of the salts of the earth, the tradies, doctors and repairmen... but as you say; '...no money in it becuase the blue collar multi nationals have squeenzed them out, in place of mass produced disposable crap, which cannot be repaired.
At least with Labor back in, a few more independant's may show up and repairing things may yet come back into fashion as the price of oil creates soaring prices amongst plastics and nylon ... as time wears on and new recycling methods are implemented to break the negative waste cycle.
We live in interesting times, at the very least, don't we?
Thanks for your great comment.
Lilla ...
unlucky_ fishermen.com
Angling Fish
BTW--thanks for the plug!!!
Enviro Warrior
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The rest is my pleasure - anything to help stop this insidious beast!
L
Flick Wit
I still have an old computer, two mobile phones and a printer that don't work in a box somewhere, now I know what to do with them.
Michaelie
Enviro Warrior
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That's three ... three less pieces in the landfill already this week! Mobile Muster will pick them up from your place as they have this special thing running atm.
Nice to see your smile.
Lilla ...
Love Speaks
As u accurately pointed out, it is a huge problem everywhere...particularly in times where convenience, lack of time and affluence all get into the mix.
A recent trip to Cambodia reminded me that we don't need much to live on. At a local art school, students were making their own tools (and chisels) salvaged from scrap metal, while the neighboring fishermen were using other parts to repair their boats. One scrapped machinery goes a very long way...
We still have much to *learn*...I think.
unlucky_ fishermen.com
Angling Fish
Just for the record, my latest computer is a reconditioned business model that only cost me $189! It has more power, space, and speed than I'll ever need. AND it runs XP! I wonder how many people NEED to go this route rather than spending a grand or more when all they want to do is check e-mail and cruise the web??????
Enviro Warrior
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For me the image you paint from your recent trip is pure magic ... I am immediately at peace "watching it." Having lived in northern India for three years, I know where you are coming from and couldn't agree more, that we are perhaps amongst the dumbest 'civilisations' on this planet...it will certainly sort the chauff here though, if push comes to pull as it looks like doing in a few years time?
Ah well, no more population explosion. To me that's better than people having to resort to eating each other in oder for the multinationals to continue to trade usig "atomic red' parctices in their manufacturing.I only hope places like Cambodia stop seeling thei resources to them in time?
Oh don't get me started on centralised wealth.
I'd rather spend my days in peaceful reflection of places like you jsut visited... going back to the classroom there, now ...
Nice to see you again,
Lilla ...
Enviro Warrior
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My husband is a provate pooter techo and wanders around fixing people's machines ... well 'upgrading them' using many of the 'bits' they already have... as you so rightly say, a few hundred will give you soooo much more.
Just looka t the price of laptops! Mine cost me about a third of that just because the case isn;t colour coordinated to my handbag, but it could land a shuttle on the moon with what it has inside it... in fact you are closer than you think to the power of yours, because they did indeed land a shuttle on the moon with less computer power in the whole of Houston Control back then in 1962, than with what most people have on their desk today ... just to be able to print a pretty picture from the camera and blog? Semms like overkill to me too... but that is how effective the brainwashing is.
We run a few computers as my children are home schooled and they are all like yours, reconditioned, upgraded, put together from parts and spares and second hand componenets picked up on e-bay and the local supplier.
It ain't rocket science as all the inard parts (in the CPU) are marked and you can only put a fan in the fan slot, the motherboard in the motherboard slot, the graphics card in the graphics spot, etc... Microsoft's plug 'n' Play Wizard takes care of everything else... and it can be quite a journey to enlightment to boot! (HA! pardon the pun).
That's like waving a red flag to a bull to me. I feel the same these days about many of these new CLean GReen COmpanies who profess this and that, but still dump their waste, use cheap labour and buy their water for manufacturing, from third world countries.... Ooh but they plant a tree here and there and that makes it okay? Pah!
As I said, don;t get me started on centralised wealth and the absolute greed of multinational trading ...oh and the stockmarket, that's another very red area for me... because I am not so sure we need it for the world to become truly self sustainable? Admittedly I don't know enough about economics to comment fully, but I am looking into it now, it's about time I learn 'why (out side of greed) we need it?'
Lilla ...
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
I am so glad to hear that recycling for E waste is possible. There is a "swap meet" one a month in Dallas were techies meet to reuse and recycle. Wonderful post friend. Always great to visit your place and see what is the latest and greatest in all that is Green
Mis
Real Crash
Enviro Warrior
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Hey this swap meet sounds like the best thing I have heard of in ages... what a wonderful idea, especially for those who can build machines from the ground up (like my hubby). Hopefully this is an idea that will spawn some more raw material recyclers. I have this friend who lives out in the country and salvages old computer equipment, he strips it all down to the raw componenets : gold, copper, lead, magnesium, that sort of stuff and steel of course, and seels them to the scrap metal places once a month. He is autistic and it really suits him to be emplyed in this way and he nets around AUD$600 and has a ball.
I think it s a great service for mankind too...do you know if you can recycle silicon? I read something the other day that suggested we were running out of the stuff, anyway, it can not be made micro-fine enough anymore to carry a current or something and just fries, so they are having to look at biological micro-chips?
And so it goes...
Always great to talk to you and I hope you get along to the swap meet and bag a bargain.
Lilla ...
Enviro Warrior
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It's been a while, what? ...are things quiet at the stock exchange, thought you'd come and heckle me instead?
My only response of course, is that there will always be cliffs for lemming to jump off of, if you DO have relevant data and information to the contrary, please give it, otherwise, you know the dfrill...
Lilla...
LIFE OF OUR TIME
Thank you for such a great post.
I don't want to repeat things said above. There are great points people have raised.
I do have some questions though,
Would it help if we penalized companies for making electronic goods that break down enough so they cannot be repaired in the first three years or something of that sort?
Is there a website that rates products for their environmental impact including the quality and expected life span?
What can be done on a collective level, say a suburb or a city to encourage and facilitate better practices?
regards
J
Enviro Warrior
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You raise a very valid point about warranty periods and product liveability ... a problem I have pondered often.. I dont know if it will be the answer, but the carbon emissions trading scheme will force a tarif on manufacturers for the amount of carbon each product manufactured creates. If that extra cost is not passed on to the consumer (not holding my breath here, okay?), then perhaps that will encourage the manufacturer to make sure his product will last just a little longer, so that his carbon taxes dont threaten his livelihood?
Well perhaps that's that ideal.
Locally in our communities, it has been suggested that donating old mobile phones to the local old people's homes, and underpriviliged would be of enormous benefit... failing that national projects like Mobile Muncher are the best bet I guess... certainly better than the kitchen bin or local landfil.
Maybe burying our old phones and electronic bits and pieces in our gardens would help when its all added up for an entire community?
I wish I still had my friend handy, the one who recycles everything electronic. He strips it all back to plastic, copper, lead ..even gold.
Thank you for your valuable comment.
Lilla ...