Electronic waste or e-waste in The United States refers to electronic products that have reached the end of their operations, and the United States is beginning to address the waste problem by regulations at the state and federal levels. Used electronics are the fastest growing waste source and can have serious health effects. The United States is a world leader in producing the most electronic waste, followed by China; both countries recycle and export e-waste domestically. Just recently the United States began trying to begin to regulate where electronic waste went and how to get rid of it.
The United States does not have an official federal e-waste regulatory system, but certain countries have implemented state regulatory systems. The National Strategy for Electronic Stewardship was established jointly by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Council on Environmental Quality, and the General Services Administration (GSA), and was introduced in 2011 to focus on the federal government. actions to build electronic management in the United States. Electronic waste management is very important because toxic chemicals are present in electronic devices. According to the US EPA, toxic substances such as lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium are often released into the environment and harm the entire community; these toxic contaminants can have detrimental effects on the health of ecosystems and living organisms. The US e-waste management includes recycling and reuse programs, domestic waste disposal, and international shipments of domestically produced e-waste. The EPA estimates that in 2009, the United States dumped 2.7 million tons of e-waste, 25% of which was recycled domestically.
Video Electronic waste in the United States
Sejarah peraturan
Until 1965, there was no federal law regulating the disposal of solid and dangerous waste in the United States. The Solid Waste Disposal Act (SWDA) was passed by Congress in 1965. The main amendment to the SWDA was the Conservation and Rescue Resource Act (RCRA), endorsed by Congress in 1976. The RCRA gave EPA the ability to regulate the hazardous stream of waste for a lifetime products, including development, transportation, and disposal. In 1986, a cargo ship carrying 14,000 tons of toxic waste left Philadelphia and traveled round the globe for more than five months constantly being turned away from the area where it tried to dump its contents. Finally, much of the toxic waste is thrown into the Indian Ocean. This incident triggered some current efforts to regulate the flow of electronic waste and ensure the health and safety of the global environment.
The US has not enacted federal laws to regulate the recycling of domestic electronic waste, but, some states have implemented policies to cope with their accumulated increases. When electronic products cease to function, they are either burned, stockpiled, or recycled to save material and protect public health and the environment by removing toxic materials. Despite efforts to push federal e-waste bills forward, spanning the 1990s, the US state has held the most legislative institution on e-waste. So far, 25 countries have enacted laws to regulate electronic waste recycling initiatives across the state, which means 65% of the population must enforce their country's e-waste recycling policies. The majority of states with e-waste law use the Producer Responsibility approach to hold manufacturers accountable for recycling retired electronic products, but because state e-waste laws vary, the effectiveness of legislation in regulating environmental and health hazards can be different. Because the US has not ratified the Basel Convention on hazardous waste, the US can export e-waste to countries where the discharge and recycling of electronic waste is cheaper due to the lack of environmental and workplace regulations.
Maps Electronic waste in the United States
Environmental and health effects
Because the US does not have federal or intergovernmental e-waste policies and electronics manufacturers still produce products with hazardous materials, e-waste is often dismantled without strict regulations or compliance so substances such as heavy metals, flame retardants, and plastics produce public health risks. Due to the unregulated nature of the informal recycling sector in developing countries, US e-waste handlers can export threats to human health and the environment.
Harmful materials in electronic devices
Electronic devices are a combination of hundreds of different material types; many of them are considered toxic when exposed to humans. Although present in the device, these toxic heavy metals are only documented to be a health hazard after the device is damaged. The process of damage to electrical devices occurs in various locations and settings (recycling sites, storage locations), but is a prominent health hazard when broken down at domestic or international sites that do not have the correct equipment or recycling method. When taken separately without proper recycling methods, equipment, or protective clothing, workers and residents become exposed to toxic chemicals in the device. E-waste negatively affects health mainly through exposure to heavy metal dioxins. Burning electronic waste without proper workplace and environmental regulations poses a risk of producing dioxins, which can cause cancer and disrupt the human body and the environment for long periods of time. In addition, open burning, a common practice in developing countries that receive e-waste, releases toxic fumes and dust that can be easily sucked and affects the nearest food and water resources. In addition to direct exposure through open burning and dismantling, storage of e-waste and landfills can lead to leakage of dioxins into the natural environment area. This dioxin is able to penetrate the soil and contaminate groundwater and surrounding vegetation; Ecological contamination not only has a negative impact on the functioning of the ecosystem as a whole, but this is another method in which all the health risks of living organisms increase dramatically.
Some of these chemicals include:
- Flame retardants : Some flame retardants such as Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs), which can be found in e-waste plastic to make electronic products more fireproof, emitted into the environment via e-waste dismantle and become dust and air. BFR is one of the materials used in the manufacture of circuit boards and plastic casing. BFR, which is soluble in fat, bioaccumulation causes neurological disorders and endocrine disorders. PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl polybromate), BFR class, interfere with brain development of animals and hormones associated with sexual development. In particular, birds near the processing place often carry these compounds in their shells. Long term exposure to these toxins can lead to problems with learning ability and memory function. Due to its toxicity, electronics manufacturers will stop BFR gradually.
- Lead : A person may be exposed to lead through inhalation, consumption, and skin contact, which can cause nausea, vomiting, and seizures, coma, or even death and in chronic cases may cause anemia and abdominal pain. Metal tin is on the electrical circuit board and lead oxide is a component of the cathode ray tube (CRT) and is used to connect the glass face plate with the funnel portion. Lead can be found in lead-acid batteries, soldering, and on televisions and monitors. Lead can leach from CRT in landfill conditions, released into the air through incineration, smashing glass, or high temperature processing. Similar to other toxins, lead can accumulate in the human body and biomass over a long period of time and can have devastating effects on the nervous system, respiratory, and cardiovascular. Lead is found in the huge amount of electronic waste that in the United States, the prison recycling program was found to have 50 times the safe rate set by the EPA. Also, in China, children living near an electronic waste processing facility are recorded to have 3 times the safe level of lead in their blood.
- Cadmium: Cadmium is another metal, found in rechargeable batteries and "phosphor" coatings in older cathode ray tubes (CRTs). Cadmium compounds are used in a variety of electronic products, their functions ranging from stabilizing PVC formations to serving as wire insulators. Cadmium is a rare metal that is highly toxic to plants, animals, and humans and is released into the air by poor incineration or dismantling. When released, cadmium generally accumulates in nearby plants, resulting in additional exposure to humans and animals. Occupations, smoke and dust containing cadmium compounds, known carcinogens, can be inhaled directly and long-term exposure causes kidney failure and bone problems. Heart disease, hypertension, and lung cancer are other health effects of cadmium inhalation. Cadmium exposure is also associated with deficits in motor skills, cognition, and learning in children.
- Mercury: Mercury is primarily used in lighting mechanisms for flat screen devices. Mercury is a highly toxic chemical that can be fatal or very damaging to the human central nervous system, especially at an early developmental age. As one of the most toxic and popular metals used in electronic products, mercury is a waste of e-waste pollutants that can be exposed through inhalation and skin contact, and is known to cause symptoms of vomiting, fever, and diarrhea and in chronic cases produce tremors. Due to its wide use, mercury can be found in common household products such as batteries, fluorescent lamps, and thermostats.
Domestic securities
One end-of-life treatment for electronic products is land filling. In the US, some countries have implemented landfill bans to accompany e-waste legislation to achieve collection objectives and ensure e-waste is channeled through the right channels. The danger in electronic waste dumping is that hazardous materials can leak out into ground water or run and contaminate nearby bodies of water. To address this, the US e-waste recycling industry continues to grow and continues to implement strong environmental and workplace standards. In 2011, US electronics waste recycling added about $ 20.6 billion to the US economy and created about 45,000 jobs. However, e-waste, which contains toxic materials such as lead and cadmium, could pose a risk to US e-waste workers when processed manually. For example, when processing a cathode ray tube (CRT), which is found on television and computer monitors, workers use handheld devices such as hammers that expose them to hazardous materials. As a result, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) investigate electronic waste recycling facilities for health and environmental compliance. In electronic waste recycling facilities, manual disassembly and electronic waste sorting are the most popular techniques and the destruction or other automatic separation techniques are secondary. One risk associated with manual disassembly is potential for lead and cadmium contamination. Lead can spread to all e-waste recycling facilities covering surfaces, worker uniforms, and areas outside the production floor, which can lead to ingestion or inhalation of lead. Therefore, federal regulators such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) state that electronic waste recycling facilities should provide uniforms, bathrooms and laundry services for workers. When facilities do not meet this protocol, exposure to lead and cadmium can leave the production floor with workers and enter their private vehicle or home, which can affect the health of family members.
Federal Prison Industries (FPI), also known as UNICOR, a government company that employs federal prison inmates, started an electronic waste recycling program in 1994. UNICOR, a major government contractor, generated over $ 765 million in sales in 2005 and has received a contract to recycle electronic waste since 1997. UNICOR has developed electronic waste recycling operations in 10 federal prisons. In addition, in 2009, UNICOR had 1,000 jailed people processing around 40 million pounds of e-waste. Since its inception, e-waste recycling programs have faced oversight related to weak security enforcement, and have undergone numerous health and safety investigations. In addition, inmates participating in the program are not protected under the Fair Labor Standards Act, and because they are not considered employees, they can not be formally organized and unprotected to talk about unsafe working conditions. This lack of legal protection keeps workers working in unsafe conditions, with fear being fired or sent to other prisons. In addition, OSHA is not allowed to conduct unannounced inspections, which undermine their ability to investigate safety breaches at work. UNICOR's facility at Atwater closed in 2002 after air quality tests found lead and cadmium levels exceeded the standards set by OSHA. Between 2002 and 2005, a series of renovations and security measures were taken to comply with security standards, but the effectiveness of these efforts in reducing worker exposure to toxic debates. In 2010, a report from the Inspector General revealed that UNICOR violated electronic waste recycling standards. The report found that UNICOR failed to provide protective workplace equipment or appropriate tools to disassemble electronic products, resulting in imprisoned staff and individuals exposed to lead and cadmium above the permissible level. In addition, unspecified e-waste quantities processed by UNICOR are also sent overseas. In addition, illegal storage and disposal of toxic wastes, such as glass and electronic dusting by UNICOR facilities, can cause contaminated soil, air and water from wind and rain runoffs. Health and safety negligence in the prison e-waste program may contribute to the accumulation of toxins in nearby communities that often consist of low-income and minority populations.
Global effect
See also: Electronic trash in China, Electronic Trash by Country
50-70% of electronic waste collected in the US for recycling is exported to developing countries, which usually end up in the informal recycling sector in Asia and West Africa. China received the largest e-recycling volume, followed by India, Nigeria and Ghana. The burning and unloading of e-waste is a major driver of atmospheric pollution and along with manual disassembly, is a major workplace practice that results in exposure to hazardous materials. Often workers do not have protection equipment at work, such as uniforms and face masks, which are necessary to protect them from toxic fumes and dust. Since e-waste export chains generally end up in unregulated, unregulated, and technically illegal demolition or demolition places, workers are often subjected to very bad and dangerous conditions and can not union or speak to obtain the right better. High poverty rates correlate with illegal electronic waste disposal sites, which is why most e-waste workers have no option to speak and lose their business or work. In rural areas, contaminated compounds can accumulate in agricultural areas and are taken by grazing animals. Because the chemicals in question generally have a slow metabolic rate in animals, they have a tendency to accumulate in the tissues and further contaminate humans through eggs, milk, and other edible products. In addition to human health hazards, water and soil contamination can kill an entire population, thus destroying or destroying local ecosystems. E-waste United States is mainly shipped to the following areas:
China: In China, simple and complex waste disposal and disposal processes occur. Electronic waste management practices include melting printed circuit boards to restore soldering (surrounding plastic burned in process), manual disassembly, and acid use to extract metals from complex mixtures. Due to the imperfect method of disposal and the number of years of e-waste processing, rural China has begun to experience surface and soil water pollution that can prevent people from living on land. In the case of China Guiyu, the region with the highest rates of cancer-causing dioxins in the world, water discharge flowed into the Lianjiang River. The Lianjiang River is considered a category 5 river; meaning that according to China's Ministry of Environmental Protection, water quality is not safe for human consumption or the function and use of agriculture. Some open air workshops in China use acid to recover valuable materials from electronic waste and waste water is transported to drainage holes, which can flow into other bodies of water and greatly impact on freshwater ecosystems and impact on agricultural sources. In some cases, groundwater is contaminated from shredding acids and separates the workshop. In Guiyu, 80% of children suffer from respiratory illness because children usually work in or live near landfills. Children in China can also experience elevated blood levels, skin damage, headaches, chronic gastritis, and duodenal ulcers due to e-waste recycling pollutants. In Guiyu China, e-waste workers adhere to this industry despite the risk, as it can earn $ 600 per month, which pays more than other jobs.
Africa: Certain African countries where US waste is sent to, are known for the use of child labor on electronic waste disposal sites. In Ghana on the Agbogbloshie e-waste site, the work of children aged 5-18 has been documented. Young girls aged between 9-12 years are reported to work primarily as collectors and sellers, while other children directly assist in the burning and unloading process. The UN's "Solving the E-Waste Problem" initiative, set up in 2007 to address the world's growing electronic waste crisis, warns that the global volume of electronic waste will increase by 33% over the next four years. Most will be discarded on sites such as Agbogbloshie, increasing the risk of soil contamination with lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic and fire retardants. Currently some organizations are working to create better conditions for handling e-waste. These organizations include the Global Alliance for Health and GAHP Pollution; Green Advocacy Ghana, an environmental NGO based in Ghana, West Africa that aims to uphold and improve the sustainability and integrity of Ghana's environment, and Bumi Murni.
Latin America: Similar to Africa, Latin American countries associated with the export of US electronic waste contain child labor at the management site. Particularly in Nicaragua, research has documented that children working on site have very high PBDE levels in serum children. However, the report documents, that the low-income communities that surround (but not work on) sites, have the same heavy PBDE and dioxin metals levels. Malnourishment is common in children in the surrounding area, and increases the vulnerability of children developing fatal illness from exposure to these chemicals. Electronic waste management is slowly incorporated into the political agenda of several countries in Latin America. However, in most countries, the present outdated electrical and electronic equipment and quantitative figures are unknown. Only Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, and Chile have certain basic studies available so far. Special electronic waste law is being developed in Costa Rica. All other countries in Latin America are still lagging behind in drafting a legal framework for electronic waste management. When drafting the law, the role of government and industry needs to be clarified. Traditional models for solid waste management have established the task of collection and disposal of waste to public authorities; however, the EPR model requires adequate assignment and responsibility sharing along the reverse supply chain. Therefore, a participatory process in designing a legal framework is a prerequisite of successful implementation in the future.
India: In India, more than 1 million urban poor workers, often with low literacy skills and an awareness of the potential dangers of e-waste exposure, manually disassemble e-waste. Most Indian e-waste workers are children and women. High levels of dioxin compounds, associated with cancer and developmental defects, have been found in breast milk and female placentas exposed to electronic waste, which may reveal undue disposal and handling of electronic products. In particular, there are various reports that the city of Delhi contains several electronic waste management sites that use concentrated hydrochloric and nitrate acids to extract gold and copper. E-waste recycling is a very lucrative business in India and is dominated by informal actors. E-waste in India is often processed to recover valuable materials in small workshops using an imperfect recycling method. For example, during manual disassembly processes on informal unloading and recycling sites, electronic waste recyclers use chisels, hammers, and cutting torches to open solder joints and separate different types of metals and components. The researchers collected ashes from two garbage incineration operations in New Delhi, India, in Ibrahimpur and Shashtri Park which contained high levels of cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc.
United States Act
Federal
The United States Congress considers a number of electronic waste bills, including the National Computer Recycling Act introduced by Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA). Meanwhile, the main federal legislation governing solid waste is the 1976 Conservation and Resource Recovery Act. This only includes CRTs, although state regulations may differ. There is also a separate law on battery disposal. Some trade organizations including the Consumer Electronics Association are lobbying for the adoption of comprehensive federal legislation. On March 25, 2009, the House Science and Technology Committee approved funding for research on reducing electronic waste and reducing environmental impacts, considered by Ralph Hall (R-TX) sponsors as the first federal bill to handle electronic waste directly. On July 6, 2009, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) proposed the "Electronic Devices Development and Recycling Act". Bill S.1397 not only focuses on stopping illegal e-waste dumping, it also calls for the design of sophisticated electronic equipment and offers funding for research and development of a more sustainable design, which will reduce the amount of toxic waste and increase reuse and recycle of electronic products.
During Earth Day, April 22, 2009, two bills were endorsed by Parliament: HR 1580 Electronic Device Research and Development Act, introduced by Rep. Bart Gordon on March 18, 2009, and HR 957 Green Energy Education Act, introduced by Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX.) HR 1580 requires EPA Administration to provide award-winning grants to university consortiums, government laboratories and private industries to conduct research with the aim of finding new approaches to recycle and reduce the dangers of materials in electronic devices and to "contribute to professional development of scientists, engineers, and technicians in the field of electronic device manufacturing, design, refurnishing, and recycling. " The bill will require grantees to report every two years to Congress about their research progress, progress gaps, risks and regulatory hurdles that may hamper their progress. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that to put the bill into effect "will cost $ 10 million in 2010 and $ 80 million over the period 2010-2014." Others are billed, H.R. 957, authorizes the Department of Energy in partnership with the National Science Foundation to provide grants to higher education institutions to promote education and training for Engineers and Architects "in high-performance and high-performance building designs."
Status
The "diversion from landfill" policy has encouraged legislation in many states requiring higher and higher volumes of electronic waste to be collected and processed separately from solid waste streams.
In 2001, Arkansas enacted the Arkansas Electronic Computer and Waste Management Act, which requires state agencies to manage and sell surplus computer equipment, set up computers and electronic recycling funds, and authorize the Department of Environmental Quality to regulate and/or ban computer disposal and electronic equipment in the Arkansas TPA.
California is the first state to make laws on e-waste issues. This implements a wider ban on waste, with an initial cost recovery fund in 2003. Electronic waste in California can not be disposed in a landfill or exported abroad. The 2003 Electronic Waste Recycling Act in California introduced the Electronic Waste Recycling Cost on all new monitors and televisions sold to cover recycling costs. It costs between six and ten dollars. California went from only a few recyclers to more than 60 countries and over 600 collection sites. The cost depends on the size of the monitor; it was adjusted on July 1, 2005 to fit the real cost of recycling. Mobile phones "considered hazardous waste" in California; many chemicals in mobile phones are leaking from landfills to groundwater systems.
Colorado law requires educational programs that address the issue of electronic waste.
In 2004, Maine graduated Maine Public Law 661, a Law to Protect Public Health and the Environment by Providing a Joint Responsibility System for Safe Collection and Electronic Waste Recycling. This requires that after 2006, computer manufacturers are responsible for handling and recycling computer monitors, and paying handling fees as well.
Massachusetts was the first of the United States to make it illegal to dispose of the CRT in landfills in April 2000, most closely resembling the European disposal ban of the 1990s.
Minnesota enforce the law of making vendors responsible for their branded electronic disposal. Minnesota law also prohibits the disposal of cathode ray tubes in landfills.
A law in Washington state came into force on January 1, 2009, which requires electronics manufacturers to pay for recycling, and build statewide collection networks around the state. The program, called E-Cycle Washington, is managed by the Washington Department of Ecology and Materials Management & amp; Financing Authority.
On January 28, 2010, Arizona introduced HB 2614, a producer liability law that modeled on Oregon laws that would include computers, laptops, and TV monitors for recycling. However, it was withdrawn on February 15, 2010.
In 2008, 17 countries had producer responsibility laws in some form. In all, 35 states have or are considering electronic waste recycling laws.
Export e-waste United States
The United States, along with a number of economically developed countries, sends most of its electronic waste to developing countries. The United Nations estimates that between 10% and 50% of US e-waste is exported, the EPA estimates 25%, and the International Trade Commission estimates that the number is close to 13%. Regardless of the number of existing reports documenting the movement and presence of waste, there is no coherent data presentation; mostly because of the difficulty of accessing this information. Studies show that this gap exists primarily because of: undifferentiated trading codes, inconsistent marking methods and classification of electronic products, inconsistent records stored in destination countries of waste, and lack of firms responsible for pressure. E-waste delivery is not a partisan issue as local governments and private industries collaborate to manage non-functioning electronics.
Research shows that while mobile phones make the largest overall electronic flow in use, TV accounts for the largest flow of used electronics are collected, and monitors have the highest export rates. The available data records show that the largest centers for mobile deportation are Asia (Hong Kong, HKSAR) and the Caribbean and parts of Latin America (Guatemala, Paraguay, Panama, Peru and Colombia). Larger electronics, such as TVs and monitors, are more likely to be exported to countries like Mexico, Paraguay, Venezuela and China. In addition to direct deliveries of waste abroad, many developed countries send their e-waste to "transport sites", which then re-export the waste to surrounding countries or rural areas within their own countries and generate extra profit. The largest international transit ports are in Asia (Hong Kong, China, United Arab Emirates), which generate large amounts of waste that end up in smaller areas of the area. The main example of this is the city of Guiyu in China, which has been symbolized as the e-waste capital of the world.
Export results
A.) TV:
- Color TV consists of the group with the highest export level.
- The transport rate is higher by ship or over land than by air.
B.) Mobile:
- The largest export destination countries: Latin America, Asia, South America.
- 73% of exports take place by air.
C.) Computer:
- Divided into two categories: Desktop and Laptop.
- Laptops have much higher export rates due to their lower weight and higher reuse values.
- The biggest destination countries include Asia and Europe.
D.) Supervisor:
- Shared into two categories: CRT Monitor and Flat Panel Monitor.
Releasing stream of export destinations: Transportation Site
Really accurate data on the electronic waste export flow is difficult to obtain and accumulate. There is a difference between simple used electronics that are exported and reused in different countries and using electronics broken down as waste, but the United States does not have a report that distinguishes them. Used electronics are often sent to hubs, where they are exported to low-income areas that break down devices, thus exposing communities to toxins. According to records tracking initial exports of used electronics, the main re-export destination hubs are: Lebanon, Argentina, Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates, Chile, Mexico and China.
Unused e-waste electronic bins
E-waste is mainly shipped to major international hubs, such as Hong Kong. However, most of the waste that is not recycled in the hub is exported to rural areas where waste is often improperly managed and becomes a heavy contaminant. Unlaid junk and unregulated processing places are almost always unlawful. This results in a lack of protection and workers' rights, generally indicating a lack of awareness of risks and dangers. In addition to the improper disassembling of tools in general, open burning and waste storage usually occurs.
Dismantling and improper processing
Unregulated electronic waste treatment bins do not contain the right equipment or apply safety precautions. Major disassembling processes generally include manual separation of the plastic parts of the rest of the device; The plastic part is then shredded into small parts if it can not be reused itself. If these plastic fragments are not directly resold to large companies, they are further broken down into fine powders. When this process is not properly regulated, the powder is easily absorbed and absorbed into the soil, air, and surrounding vegetation. Electronic devices are also stripped of their heavy metal components; this process in turn exposes the workers to the raw elements of the metal. In addition to manually disassembling the device, unregulated junk is the final dump. Disposal of the device is mainly done by burning or crushing and burying fragments; thereafter has been documented to cause significant health problems in the surrounding area.
Open burning
Open burning is the most common way to 'dispose' electronic waste and occurs primarily in rural areas with low incomes in developing countries. Communities use open burning for various functions: For direct disposal, it takes the least human effort and is the cheapest option. For the extraction of precious metals, it can be an effective method to extract certain precious metals, such as gold. E-combustion combustion yields ash which contains fine particles; the size of pollutants that have been linked to cardiovascular and pulmonary problems. Additional health risks result from direct exposure to toxic metals that release dioxins when burned and other than inhaled, become embedded into the soil and plants in the surrounding area. The United Nations has undertaken significant research into the growing issue of electronic waste disposal and has documented that different communities are disproportionately affected by this problem: "The practices are strongly linked to poverty because uncontrolled waste disposal is usually located near with human settlements.Since the poor have no economic means or technical knowledge, they also fuel their own waste and thus create their own source of dioxins in their backyard.Therefore, women and children spend most of their time at home and living close to the most open burning areas and at a higher risk than others, for example, rich and urban residents. "
Waste storage for processing
In addition to opening up the burning of electronic waste, rural communities are often used as storage locations. There are various stages in the life of electronic devices, and devices stored or recycled depending on the specific stage. Storage facilities are almost always constructed and arranged inappropriately and thus generally result in contamination of soil and natural areas around the facility. Facilities that store cathode ray tubes (CRTs) are mainly contaminated. The soil and dust samples collected at this site show high levels of cadmium, zinc, and yttrium along with other heavy metal dioxins.
Export responsibility
While the number of e-Waste recycling programs in the United States has increased, some of the waste continues to be shipped overseas. Recent research conducted by the Basel Action Network shows that along with companies that directly try to deliver their waste overseas or to domestic waste disposal, some self-made recycling programs have contributed to the export figures. Questionable recycling companies act as brokers and "cut costs by dismantling dismantling and recycling to poor countries with weak labor legislation, weak environmental regulations, and poor track record of human rights." The Basel Action Network gained credibility after exposing electronic takeover programs that promote their focus on sustainability by attaching tracking devices to donated electronic devices. About one-third of the 200 major BAN investigation geolocation tracking devices end up abroad and complete their journey in rural Hong Kong.
Before the laws governing e-waste are enforced, companies can directly export e-waste to a recycling center or landfill. Once regulatory measures are introduced, most exports are made through certified e-waste handlers or non-certified handlers. The two largest certified handlers competing are e-stewards and the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI). ISRI represents some of the largest waste handlers because they trade with Asia and Africa. Although many recycling programs have improved in efficiency, gaps still exist in recycling programs that allow companies to continue to export parts of used electronic devices. The majority of e-stewards recyclers apply a no-export policy related to all devices, but are still allowed to export plastics and raw metals in the simplest form. Because of this loophole, electronics are often labeled as raw plastics to pass customs, but in reality contain most of the components of complete electronic devices; this almost complete device then follows the general export process sent and broken down at the center of electronic waste, where the valuable components are then sent to the junkyard to be broken down. Additionally, reports indicate that recyclers with e-steward certification can export the electronics used if the device has undergone tests proving that they can still work. The device also makes deliveries to the hub for valuable part extraction.
E-waste settings
International rules
The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Waste and Its Disposal in 1989 is an international treaty that sets guidelines for the movement of hazardous waste. In 2006, members of the Basel Convention began discussing the addition of electronic waste management. Although 185 countries including the EU have ratified the treaty, the United States, one of the largest exporters of electronic waste, has not yet ratified it. In terms of international regulatory bodies, in 2010 the United States EPA and the United Nations University Solve the E-waste Problem Initiative (UNU-Step) began to respond to electronic waste problems being exported to developing countries by tracking the global flow of electronic waste. In addition, in 2011 EPA USA, EPA Taiwan, and other international governments collaborated to form the International E-Waste Management Network (IEMN) to outline best practices on global electronic waste management and highlight the next steps.
Domestic settings
To satisfy consumer and producer desires to handle e-waste properly without federal legislation, two US recycling standards are implemented: e-stewards Standard for Responsible Recycling and Reuse of Responsible Electronic Equipment and Responsible Practices (R2 ). Certified e-waste recyclers must adhere to best practices outlined for handling e-waste. R2 was released in 2008 and revised in 2013 and is considered more practical to implement while also fully consistent with the Basel Convention as it is organized by the EPA and other e-waste stakeholders. E-stewards and R2 recyclers are governed by different protocols. In the field of e-waste export to developing countries for repairs or recycling, R2 recyclers can still export while e-stewards recyclers are banned. In the field of waste incineration or dewatering, R2 recyclers may dispose of toxic electronic waste in landfills or incinerators if 'circumstances beyond control' are not specified while e-stewards are prohibited. Regarding workplace safety, R2 recyclers are allowed to determine which toxic chemicals and levels of exposure are appropriate while e-stewards should examine practices for harm, such as breaking up CRTs, removing mercury-containing devices, shredding and using solvents or thermal process to break up e-waste. Another consumer and public health issue is the recycling of electronic waste in prisons. In this area, R2 recyclers can use prison recycling operations at their discretion while e-stewards recyclers are prohibited from doing so. Currently, there are more than 600 certified R2 recyclers in 21 countries. The Basel Action Network (BAN) is a participant in the EPA R2 recycling certification but broke away within two and a half years. Due to the less stringent regulations on R2 recyclers, the Basel Action Network has established e-steward recycling certification to generate stronger e-waste regulations. Although most companies opt for R2 or e-stewards certification, some companies such as Sims Recycling Solutions are certified by both.
Lobby
Organizations are actively lobbying governments to address the issue of electronic waste. The main organizations are the Basel Action Network and the Toxics Silicon Valley Coalition.
Consumer recycling
According to the EPA, consumers should dispose of electronics through recycling because, "Electronic products are made of valuable resources and materials, including metals, plastics, and glass, all of which require energy to be mined and produced.Contribute or recycle consumer electronics to conserve natural resources and avoiding air and water pollution, as well as greenhouse gas emissions caused by the manufacture of virgin materials. "Consumer recycling options include donating equipment directly to organizations in need, sending devices directly back to their original manufacturer, or acquiring components for recyclers or comfortable recyclers.
Donations
The EPA maintains a list of electronic recycling and donation options for American consumers. National Cristina Foundation, TechSoup (Hardware Donation List), Computer Takeback Campaign, and National Technology Recycling Project provide resources for recycling. Local recycling sites that do not process waste products on the site still contribute to electronic waste.
Takeback
Corporations across the United States offer electronic recycling and recycling programs, offering low cost to be recycled at no cost. These centers receive and recycle electronics from the public, including mobile phones, laptops and desktop computers, digital cameras, and home and car electronics. Companies like Staples, Toshiba, and Gateway offer returns programs that provide monetary incentives for recyclable or working technologies. The Manufacturing Recycling Management Co. was established by Panasonic, Sharp Corporation and Toshiba to manage electronic waste stamped by the manufacturer, including 750 tons of TVs, computers, audio equipment, faxes and components in the first four months. Office Depot allows customers to get a "recycling technology" box for e-waste if it is not eligible for the EcoNEW technology trade-in program. Best Buy offers a similar program for products purchased from Best Buy.
Although beneficial to the environment and its citizens, there are some disadvantages to such a program. Many companies offer services for various electronic goods, while their recycling centers are small. Recycling centers and retrieval programs are available in many parts of the country, but the types and quantities of equipment to be recycled tend to be limited. Some companies, such as Sony in the Take Back Recycling Program, provide recycling incentives but only receive up to five recycled items per day and only if it is the company's products. Sony also partnered with the Waste Management Inc. program. Recycle America and offer discount and tradeup programs. Costco, which offers free shipping and handling for all recycling equipment, will only allow Costco club members to participate in their programs. Crutchfield Electronics offers its own gift cards in exchange for electronic waste, through the Consumer Electronics Exchange. Hewlett-Packard has recycled more than 750 million pounds of electronic waste globally, including hardware and print cartridges.
Reuse
Free Geek is a collectively run non-profit organization based in Portland, Oregon. It aims to reuse or recycle used computer equipment that may be a hazardous waste, and to make computer technology more accessible for those who lack the financial means or technical knowledge. Also, New Neighborhood Development, Inc. is a non-profit organization that recently started in Illinois, providing free electronic recycling to bring awareness of e-waste hazards.
NextWorth, Gazelle, are two of the largest and most famous organizations that buy and resell used phones.
See also
- Electronic waste by country
- Electronic Waste Recycling Cost - California
- Texas Campaign for the Environment
- Metech Inserted
- Recycling in the United States
- Environmental issues in the United States
References
Note
Further reading
- ELECTRONIC QUESTIONS Considerations for Promoting Good Environmental Reuse and Recycling (PDF) . GAO-10-626. United States Government Accountability Office. July 2010.
External links
- EPA - computer donation location
- EPA - Recycled
- Organization
- Basel Action Network
- Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition
- TakeBack Electronic Coalition, California
- Texas Campaign for the Environment
- E-Cycles Oregon
- Sustainable Electronics Initiative
- Cristina National Foundation
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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