E-waste Option: Green Disposal
Gone are the days when bulky refrigerators and VHS tapes littered
the landfills. Now, there are more things to worry about. Compact
discs, computer monitors, hard drives, circuit boards and printers have
composed a new brand of trash—electronic waste.
E-waste, as it is popularly called, occurs because of the rapid
advancement in technology, and change in the pop culture, style and
status of the owner involved. It is rapidly expanding, and an issue
that usually flies under the radar. For example, what happens to used
batteries? We just throw them in the garbage bins, unmindful of lead content or other harmful chemicals in the parts.
Computer PCs in the UK, for example, are filling up landfills.
Considered “obsolete” by the quickly changing models offered by
electronics companies, these discarded computers number up to 20
million annually in the USA.
It has been found out that E-waste most likely ends up in developing
nations, prompting the UN Environment Programme to be alarmed by the
improper disposal of e-waste in other countries. Hazardous chemicals
and heavy metals find their way in Africa, Asia and South America, and
it is also not often broadcasted that a single computer can contain up
to 2kg of lead, and its materials make it difficult to recycle without
the help of the manufacturer.
What is in your PC? It’s actually composed of 23% plastic, 32%
ferrous metals, 18% non-ferrous metals, 12% electronic boards and 15%
glass. When companies or households end up with computers to discard,
they end up confused. Could it be used again in the future? Can it be
given to someone who can use it? How do we dispose of it?
Disposal options
Take it to a professional waste disposal facility
Australia-based HMR Envirocycle Inc. is the Philippines’ only
licensed e-waste recycling facility. It has a branch here and in
Malaysia, with a larger plant in Orange County, California. They offer
“demanufacturing” and disposal services, scrap and waste management and
even inventory as well. They also minimize the health hazards contained
in cellular phones, PDAs, MP4s and other gizmos, which contain
plastics, lead, cadmium and mercury.
Envirocycle has bins in Ayala Malls, and works with the SM Malls
group to provide an “e-waste” market in Metro Manila where people can
resell household appliances and electronic devices in an
environmentally sound venue.
Return the product to the manufacturer
More and more electronic goods manufacturers like Dell
have e-waste management in their environmental policies. Dell even
offers free home pick-up, shipping, and recycling of any obsolete
equipment.
Hewlett Packard also delves into this, expanding recycling
operations to more than 40 regions in the world. Last 2005, they
recycled over 74 million kilos of electronics, all aiming to cut down
the volume of waste, cut down on the raw materials needed for new
products and make recycling easier.
Donate it to a charity or non-profit organization
Most non-profit organizations collect e-waste for re-use in
developing countries. Just check beforehand if there are security
measures about your personal data in the hard drives (or better yet,
just clean them out completely before donating), and that the
organization has a plan as to what to do with your donation once it
becomes obsolete.
In the UK, there are about fifty non-profit organizations that can collect, refurbish and supply PCs. The most established is Computer Aid International,
which has already distributed 100,000 PCs in over 100 countries, making
it the global leader in not-for-profit supply of IT equipment.
Earth911.org can also help you find resources for recycling, donating and disposing obsolete computers in your area.
Sources:
Anonas-Carpio, Alma. “Gadgets’ afterlife: Proper e-waste disposal in RP.” Retrieved March 22, 2009 from
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/component/content/article/40-anniversary-issue/203-gadgets-afterlife-proper-e-waste-disposal-in-rp.html
“Computers.” Retrieved March 22, 2009 from
http://www.recycling-guide.org.uk/computers.html
“E-Waste Management.” Retrieved March 22, 2009 from
http://www.iimm.org/knowledge_bank/9_e-weste-management.htm
Hiner, Jason. “What does your company do with old computers?” Retrieved March 22, 2009 from
http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/hiner/?p=442
Ogg, Erica. “HP grindhouse: Where old PCs go to die.” Retrieved March 22, 2009 from
http://news.cnet.com/2100-1041_3-6191067.html
(Published 07 April 2009, Smart Communications, Inc.)
