Responsible Disposal of e-waste

Though businesses often pay a great deal of attention to their environmental footprint and to the performance impact of IT assets when they are in use, relatively little attention is paid to the environmental impact of IT assets after their useful life has come to an end. Given the alarming environmental impact of e-waste, this inattention is a potential public relations liability and a mistake for companies that care about protecting the environment. E-waste represents over 90% of the long-lived toxic material disposed of by a typical white collar firm (see figure 6 below). Unregulated and improper e-waste recycling has been linked to massive fish die-offs and other ecological catastrophes.

Figure 6 e-waste analysis

Source: EEP Analysis

So where does the tons of e-waste end up? According to New York Time(December 9, 2007), "Most e-waste ends up being shipped abroad to developing nations, where unprotected workers are exposed to a machine's toxic guts while they extract reusable parts. what cannot be salvaged is often dumped in or near water sources, a practice that enviromental groups say has contributed to polluted soil and drinking water for poor popuplations."  And researchs shows that unregulated e-waste recycling in the developing world is an environmental and human health disaster. 

The video below will give you more details about the impact of dumping e-waste to developing countries:

       Source: Dumping on the poor from YouTube

E-waste not shipped to the developing world is typically discarded in landfills. Newsweek notes that: “Most consumers will eventually send their old, obsolete gear to landfills, where decaying circuit boards and PC screens could leak toxic substances like mercury, lead, and chromium.”

So what is “Responsible Disposal”?

Responsible disposal of e-waste assures:

• IT assets are put to their highest and best use to lighten the burden on the environment
• Toxics in e-waste never go to the developing world to harm the environment

How to participate:
There are a variety of programs associated with electronics recycling and e-waste disposal:


Mobile Phones


In most instances, your mobile phone company should be able to recycle your old phone for you at no charge. As noted above, in California, cell phone companies are required by law to perform this service.


There are also a number of non-profit and for profit organizations that will recycle your old cell phone. For example, the 911 Cell Phone Bank works with law enforcement agencies and associations to provide free 911 capable cell phones. According to the organization, they donate roughly 1,500 phones per month.


Computers and Peripheral Hardware


Most major computer hardware retailers, like Apple, HP, IBM, Gateway and Dell, have some kind of "product take-back" program in place. For a small fee (in most cases), owners can send their old hardware back to the manufacturer for processing, recycling and disposal. Other retailers, like Office Depot, may offer free electronics recycling on designated dates.


There are also a number of charitable, non-profit and for-profit organizations that accept old computers for recycling. In some cases, giving away old electronics may even be characterized as a charitable donation with positive tax consequences for the donor, so hang onto those recipts from the receiving organization.

Reference:

The recycling and disposal of electrical and electronic waste in China—legislative and market responses. Environmental Impact Assessment Review 25 459–471.

Recycling: tech trash, e-waste: from Business Week (December 13, 2005)

Time to deal with e-Waste The New York Times (December, 9, 2007)

Andrew Zangilli(March, 2008) Responsible e-waste disposal from http://articles.technology.findlaw.com/2006/Sep/20/10271.html