Rapidly increasing sales of electronic equipment are creating a landslide of potentially hazardous electronic waste. One of the greatest challenges facing the world today is how to handle the problem of electronic waste.
This year’s gadgets are smarter, faster and often cheaper. Old phones and computers are discarded as millions of computers, phones and other electronic equipment flooding out of stores worldwide. The new tech makes life simpler and more enjoyable, but like King Midas, we face the dilemma posed by having too much of a good thing.
Tons of old electronics filled toxic elements are ending up in dumps and landfills. Most of the one billion cell phones and over 300 million computers sold every year will need to be replaced within just 2 to 3 years. Simply throwing them away is impossible due to public health considerations. Tech waste recycling is the only safe solution.
The Risks
Consumer electronics contain toxic metals and chemicals. Lead, mercury and arsenic are just a few of these toxins. Research conducted by the United Nations proves these toxins cause cancer, serious endocrine disorders and genetic damage. Putting tech waste in the dump or burning it to recycle the metals it contains is making people sick.
Tech waste contaminates the environment because it does not break down. Toxic elements seep into the air, soil and water. The 45 million tons of tech waste discarded every year must be properly recycled to avoid creating public health hazards. The great majority of discarded tech waste set aside for recycling is shipped to China where it is then burned to recover metals.
Poison Factories
Zhejiang University researchers studied the health damage tech waste recycling employees suffered from exposure to the melting or burning process. Testing the environment around the facilities revealed carcinogenic pollutants. Human tissue cell testing results showed signs of inflammation and DNA damage. In response to the issue, the Consumer Electronics Association and major electronics retailers like Dell, Staples and Best Buy are promoting banning the shipment of tech waste overseas for disposal.
Finding a Better Way
The consumer electronics industry in conjunction with various government institutions is hard at work to ensure that tech waste is recycled in a responsible manner. Stringent EPA regulations ensure that the workers engaged in dismantling and separating electronic components are protected from exposure to toxins. Tech Waste Recycling and other American tech waste recycling companies use an enclosed process that protects workers from risk. The entire recycling process is designed to reduce potential health hazards. Any electronics that are salvageable are resold to prevent unnecessary waste. Other devices are carefully recycled in an environmentally responsible manner.
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