“E-Waste is a term for electronic products nearing the end of their useful life, and the United States “generates more of this type of waste than any other nation” according to the EPA. (Mayfield). Electronics such as computers, T.Vs, cellphones and Fax machines become outdated so quickly, due to rapidly advancing technology and planned obsolescence that the average consumer finds in cheaper and more convenient to replace old electronics rather than to repair them. This produces in excess of 4.6 million tons of waste in the U.S. alone, most of which ends up in landfills where lead and other dangerous chemicals can leach into the groundwater, contaminating our drinking water or evaporating into the air. Much of it is also exported to China, Pakistan, India and other developing nations where workers taking the machines apart are exposed to toxic chemicals such as:
Lead
Which damages the peripheral nervous system, affects memory, vision and
muscle coordination, as well as joint weakness, kidney damage and infertility.Cadmium
Which damages lungs and can cause liver and kidney disease as well as brain damage.Mercury
A neurotoxin that can cause fetal damage, paralysis and death.
Ted Smith of the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition states, “The fruits of our high-tech revolution are pure poison if these products are improperly disposed of at the end of their useful life” (qtd. In Mayfield).
Japan and the European Union are leading the pack in eliminating toxic chemicals in electronics and stepping up recycling laws: “The European Parliament recently approved two legislative mandates (I.E. The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive and The Extended Producer Responsibility Act.) to require manufacturers to cover the recycling and collection costs of their own take-back programs” (Mayfield) Japanese companies like Fujitsu are developing lead-free products, and under Europe's Restrictions on Hazardous Substances Act, “any manufacturer who wants to do business with Europe has to produce lead-free products. (Mayfield)
Although the U.S has been “Irresponsible” and “Shamefully negligent” according to the Basal Action Network, a number of American companies including Apple, Sony, and Hewlett-Packard have phased out lead in their products and are operating viable take-back programs to deal with outdated machines. “California law currently views non-functioning CRTs (Cathode Ray Tubes) from televisions and monitors as hazardous,” (California Integrated Waste Management Board) and along with Massachusetts has “made it illegal to discard Cathode Ray tubes monitors and televisions in landfills because of the lead content in the glass.” (Mayfield).
Unfortunately, a lot of E-waste is being sent to Africa, ostensibly to be re-used, but, “One of the problems is that no one certifies whether outdated machines work before they hit the seaways” (Harder), so traders sell the working machines and dump the rest to pollute the environment in these countries. According to The Basal Action Network this “Toxic Trade” is driven by profits rather than the desire to provide modern technology to developing countries. It creates a pipeline that sends tons of E-Waste to the poorest countries, and is in fact illegal under the Basal convention.
The flow of waste needs to be stopped at the source because as each country enacts laws to keep waste out it will “Flow to the next country that has lax environmental standards” (Harder) So what can we do? For a start we can buy products that are guaranteed to be as toxin-free as possible, we can buy only from companies that have a viable take-back policy, and we can make an effort to either repair or pass on outdated electronics to reduce the amount that is thrown away. Remember, what's a “Dinosaur” to you might be a “Cheetah” to someone else.
