New personal electronic devices age poorly, and obsolescence is built-in. The hottest new smart-phones enjoy a comparatively short life-span, and soon join the old CD players, miniature flip-phones, and big, boxy-looking PCs that are relegated to the attic or garage. Each consumer generates around twenty pounds of electronic garbage each year on average, and Dallas e-waste processing helps them recycle the old units responsibly.
Most computer-based electronics contain toxic materials. Before flat-screens became standard, cathode ray tubes required barium, a poisonous metallic element also used in car parts and lighting. Cadmium is present in circuit boards, and exposure can harm bones and kidneys. Chromium, lead, and mercury are also found in many old parts, often framed by plastics that do not burn or decompose.
The public is well-informed about the need for recycling, but that awareness has had little impact on the growing presence of e-waste. It is common for manufacturing companies to have no officially expressed policy regarding ultimate disposal, and even environmentally progressive bodies such as the European Union can account for less than one quarter of the electronic garbage generated. United States figures go even lower, and much of that is exported for metal extraction.
In an ideal world, electronics makers would take full responsibility for recycling their own products, and that is becoming a reality in some cases. In Texas, computer and TV makers are now required by law to offer free recycling services for consumers, and must publicize those opportunities. While many major corporations willingly choose to participate, others say recycling is the responsibility of buyers, not makers.
Even the most environmentally-aware consumers may not be able to discover the real destination of their recyclables. A growing number of services provide free pickup, mass collection rallies or events are popular, and a growing number of charitable organizations solicit old equipment for re-purposing. Much of the material has traditionally ended up in poorer countries with their own e-waste issues, including worker exposure to toxins.
After the old electronics are gone, there is little real assurance that they will not become a part of a foreign landfill. Some of the destination countries willingly trade environmental issues for hard currency and the chance to escape poverty. Those generating the most electronic detritus often choose solutions that are profitable in the short term, but may cause more serious issues for future generations.
Some electronics makers are seeking meaningful certification by local, independent environmental agencies. In many states there are already substantial fines for flaunting regulations, but no national laws uniformly regulate electronic waste processing. It has become extremely easy for people to have their old electronics taken away, but very hard to determine their final destination.
Residents of Austin and other Texas cities often choose a recycling company that is able to explain concisely how their own processes work. An increasing number maintain tracking data that follows discarded materials from start to finish, and exercise considerable care in choosing a final destination. Not only does this help prevent further environmental destruction, but also reduces health hazards for employees and their families.
Most computer-based electronics contain toxic materials. Before flat-screens became standard, cathode ray tubes required barium, a poisonous metallic element also used in car parts and lighting. Cadmium is present in circuit boards, and exposure can harm bones and kidneys. Chromium, lead, and mercury are also found in many old parts, often framed by plastics that do not burn or decompose.
The public is well-informed about the need for recycling, but that awareness has had little impact on the growing presence of e-waste. It is common for manufacturing companies to have no officially expressed policy regarding ultimate disposal, and even environmentally progressive bodies such as the European Union can account for less than one quarter of the electronic garbage generated. United States figures go even lower, and much of that is exported for metal extraction.
In an ideal world, electronics makers would take full responsibility for recycling their own products, and that is becoming a reality in some cases. In Texas, computer and TV makers are now required by law to offer free recycling services for consumers, and must publicize those opportunities. While many major corporations willingly choose to participate, others say recycling is the responsibility of buyers, not makers.
Even the most environmentally-aware consumers may not be able to discover the real destination of their recyclables. A growing number of services provide free pickup, mass collection rallies or events are popular, and a growing number of charitable organizations solicit old equipment for re-purposing. Much of the material has traditionally ended up in poorer countries with their own e-waste issues, including worker exposure to toxins.
After the old electronics are gone, there is little real assurance that they will not become a part of a foreign landfill. Some of the destination countries willingly trade environmental issues for hard currency and the chance to escape poverty. Those generating the most electronic detritus often choose solutions that are profitable in the short term, but may cause more serious issues for future generations.
Some electronics makers are seeking meaningful certification by local, independent environmental agencies. In many states there are already substantial fines for flaunting regulations, but no national laws uniformly regulate electronic waste processing. It has become extremely easy for people to have their old electronics taken away, but very hard to determine their final destination.
Residents of Austin and other Texas cities often choose a recycling company that is able to explain concisely how their own processes work. An increasing number maintain tracking data that follows discarded materials from start to finish, and exercise considerable care in choosing a final destination. Not only does this help prevent further environmental destruction, but also reduces health hazards for employees and their families.
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Read more about How Dallas E-Waste Processing Centers Are Combating A Growing Problem.
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