E-Waste Is Hazardous Waste

E-Waste Is Hazardous Waste

Americans bought an estimated $125 billion worth of consumer electronics — computers, monitors, cell phones, televisions — this past year. With hundreds of millions of them becoming obsolete every year in this country, what happens to all the stuff we don't want any more?

...there's a dirty little secret piling up with those electronics thrown into the garbage. This "e-waste" is tainted with hazardous contaminants.

The average computer monitor contains more than five pounds of lead. Computers can also contain mercury and cadmium. When you multiply that by the millions of outdated computers and monitors, you've got lots of toxins that you don't want to put back into the earth.

It's environmentally unsafe for individuals to just throw out computers and monitors, but federal law prohibits businesses from doing it.

This is becoming a huge problem...

The full article is well worth reading.

Related articles:

State debates who should pay to recycle e-waste

One man's trash doesn't necessarily become another man's treasure.

SEARCHING FOR E-WASTE SOLUTIONS

GARBAGE IN, GARBAGE OUT


[edit on 8-1-2006 by loam]