Before you toss that old computer or VCR in the trash…consider “e-cycling”–electronics recycling. Our growing dependence on electronics products both at home and in the workplace has given rise to a new environmental challenge: electronic waste. A recent study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that electronics already make up approximately one percent of the municipal solid waste stream and are growing at three times the rate of other municipal waste.

According to the U.S. EPA, more than 20 million personal computers became obsolete in 1998 and only 13% were reused or recycled.

Electronic circuit boards, batteries and color cathode ray tubes (CRTs) can contain hazardous materials such as lead, mercury and hexavalent chromium. If improperly handled or disposed, these toxins can be released into the environment through landfill leachate or incinerator ash.

In just one year, more than 112 million pounds of valuable materials were recovered from disposed electronics for recycling and reuse. Materials included steel, glass, plastic and precious metals.

source: cleanup.org


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