E-Waste

What is E-waste?

E waste stands for electric waste or electronic waste. Its what’s left over when you take all of the plastics out of an abandoned electrical device; the circuit board, the RAM, the hard drive, wires, videocards, fan motors, etc. this is designated as waste because it is not bio-degradable, and commonly gets dumped in landfills around the world. (http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/electronics/whatisE-waste/)

Two big reasons why E-waste is detrimental to society

E-waste is Expensive waste. Old computers still contain platinum, gold, copper, and other precious metals, magnets, and elements. These metals, Gold and platinum especially, are a very expensive thing to waste. They are a limited resource, and the more we waste, the more prices will go up, making technology affordable and available to less people.

E-waste is toxic

One of the main toxins in E-waste is lead. Lead is responsible for many deaths in the history of mankind. The romans used lead plumbing for a time, before they deamed it toxic, and suffered greatly for it. Lead is toxic to mature adults, but is also extremely toxic to infants, who have been found to develop neurological problem post-exposure (http://www.epa.gov/air/lead/health.html).

Cadmium is another one of the main toxins in E-waste, and perhaps a far deadlier one because of its potency. Cadmium has been known to cause kidney stones, reduced lung function, emphysema, and cancer. Cadmium is also believed to be responsible for other adverse effects on the kidney, liver, lung, bone, immune system, blood, and nervous system. (http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/cadmium.html) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11684553)

E-Waste Facts

• Over 100 million computers, monitors and televisions become obsolete each year in the US. 
• About 300 million other consumer electronics such as cell phones and DVD players become obsolete each year in the US. 
• E-Waste accounts for 40 percent of the lead and 75 percent of the heavy metals found in landfills. 
• Consumers have, on average, two or three obsolete computers in their garages, closets or storage spaces. 
• Computers contain valuable metals including gold, silver, palladium, platinum, aluminum and copper. 

(http://www.iowadnr.gov/Environment/LandStewardship/WasteManagement/Recycling/E-waste.aspx)


What are methods to control limit prevent or recycle E-waste?

One method, mentioned at (http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/10/waste-reducing-impact-innovation/) that sprint uses is to sell refurbished products at a reduced rate. This not only saves the consumer money, but it keeps an old phone from going into a landfill. It brings up the important point that we need to make sure that the consumer has motivation to recycle, or to prevent E-waste. Another big thing that they mentioned was designing the goods so that you could salvage them more easily once they are dead. This would mean we could reuse the platinum and gold that we would be otherwise just wasting.

Annotated Bibliography
http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/10/waste-reducing-impact-innovation/
A detailed guide on how to control E-waste from the perspective of someone working at sprint. Gave methods sprint uses, and separate methods of Dell. Good inside perspective with innovative ideas.

http://www.iowadnr.gov/Environment/LandStewardship/WasteManagement/Recycling/E-waste/HazardsofE-waste.aspx
Generally a good site for E-waste related info. Has good statistics, simple description of the negative effects of the toxins involved.

http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/cadmium.html

medical effects of cadmium, lead, and other toxins. VERY detailed, and could even be hard to find the useful bits.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11684553
(well documented study on the adverse affects of even small doses of cadmium, which is found in E-waste. Extremely precise and very informative )

http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/electronics/whatisE-waste/
good basic definition of E-waste, and gave a few details about what you can do to prevent it.