What is e-Waste

E-waste or electronic waste is defined as Computers, televisions, VCRs, stereos, copiers, fax machines and other electronic equipment, which have been discarded, have become obsolete, have ceased to function or are no longer wanted. Unfortunately, electronic discards is one of the fastest growing segments of our nation's waste stream. Certain components of some electronic products contain materials that render them hazardous, depending on their condition and density. For instance, CRTs (cathode ray tubes) from televisions and monitor are extremely hazardous.

The CRT Issue

Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT's) are the picture tubes in computer monitors and TV's. They are found in virtually every household and office throughout the nation. With the rapid evolution of technology, computers become obsolete in a short period of time. With the coming advent of High Definition (HD) digital TV's, current analog TV's will become obsolete. Each year, an estimated 40 million CRT's are discarded. A typical 17-inch CRT contains approximately two pounds of lead. Larger CRT's may contain up to ten pounds of lead. Lead is a known toxic substance and disposal of CRT's in landfills can cause the pollution of soil and groundwater.   In October of 2001, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned the dumping of CRT's in landfills. In November of 2002, the EPA began to fine companies that disposed of CRT's through landfills or incineration. Regulatory agencies, local and statewide, are now monitoring the disposal of CRT's and other computer equipment. If you do not use the services of a CRT Recycler to dispose of your used monitors, and you're caught, you will be fined.

Consumer Electronic Devices (CED's)

CED's are common consumer electronic devices that are used in the home or office, such as telephones, cellular phones, answering machines, radios, stereo equipment, tape players/recorders, phonographs, video cassette players/recorders, compact disc players/recorders, calculators, copiers and fax machines. The DTSC has determined that CED's contain toxic substances and should not be disposed of in landfills.

Did you know:

• Electronics are the fastest-growing portion of America's trash-with 350 million computers destined to become obsolete by 2008.
• More than 4.2 million tons of electronic waste is buried in U.S. landfills each year.
• The e-waste refuse stream is growing at a rate of 3-5% per year, making it the fastest growing refuse   problem in the world.
• The average life expectancy of a new PC is now less than two years.
• Tax laws are written so that computer equipment can be depreciated over a three year period. Therefore, most companies are ineligible to donate equipment for tax write offs, since it may have already been entirely depreciated.
• Most schools and non-profits will no longer take computer equipment as donations, since they would simply be assuming the liability and cost for end-of-life disposal. In most cases, by the time computers are donated to the schools, they are years behind the current generation of technology.
• Electronics are made with valuable materials. In 1998 over 112 million pounds of material were recovered from electronics including Steel, Aluminum, Glass, Plastic and Precious Metals.
• Computers have several elements- Lead, Mercury, Cadmium-that are regulated as hazard waste by U.S EPA and all states. Electronics can be an environmental hazard if they are disposed by landfills or incinerating.