| e could have predicted the explosion of electronics | | | | lead in the jewelry. While it was only a theory, the |
| that has occurred in the last two decades. Nearly | | | | lead from electronic circuit boards was most likely the |
| everything we do and have contact with, involves | | | | source. |
| the use of electronics. Even simple wristwatches | | | | The only way you can know for sure that the |
| have become mini computers. | | | | electronic item that you are planning to recycle is |
| According to the Consumer Electronics Association | | | | truly going to be recycled properly is to check to see |
| “Americans own approximately 24 electronic | | | | if the recycler has an an” |
| products per household” in the form of | | | | E-Steward"designation. Only then will you know that |
| computers, iPods, mp3 players, fax machines, | | | | your electronic item is not going to China or to a |
| printers, cell phones and a host of other products. | | | | landfill. |
| This proliferation of electronics has resulted in a huge | | | | The best way to keep electronics out of the landfills |
| problem as to how to dispose of electronic waste, | | | | is to reuse them. In the case of computers and |
| known as “e-waste”, when they are | | | | peripherals, if they are less than 5 years old, you can |
| no longer operational or wanted. It is estimated that | | | | send it to a company that refurbishes computers. |
| 3.2 million tons of e-waste, most of which is | | | | They will wipe your hard drive clean of any sensitive |
| discarded computers and peripherals, is tossed into | | | | data and give them to non-profit organizations, |
| landfills each year. | | | | schools or other organizations in need of such |
| A vast array of toxic chemicals, carcinogens and | | | | equipment. |
| heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury, | | | | If you are planning dispose of a cell phone, consider |
| chromium, polyvinyl chlorides used in the manufacture | | | | donating it to a woman’s shelter. Since the |
| of computers are being dumped in those landfills. | | | | 911 function on a cell phone works even if the |
| These materials are known to have toxicological | | | | service has been terminated, these cell phones are |
| effects ranging from brain damage to kidney disease | | | | being given to battered women to allow them to call |
| to mutations, and cancer. The sad part of this is that | | | | for help when needed. |
| many of the components of e-waste can be reused. | | | | In addition, many large manufacturers such as Apple, |
| Prior to the year 2000, much of our e-waste was | | | | Dell, Gateway, HP, IBM and others, have recycling |
| sent to China. There it is burned, releasing toxic | | | | programs. Information and packing labels are often |
| chemicals into the air and water supply. The Chinese | | | | included with the purchase of a new computer, so |
| then used the by-products to manufacture goods | | | | you can send back your old computer to the |
| that are shipped out of the country. | | | | manufacturer for them to recycle. |
| In 2006, Jeffrey Weidenhamer, a chemist at Ashland | | | | It may take a little research on your part to locate |
| University, published a research paper after studying | | | | the proper way to recycle your e-waste, but your |
| the components of inexpensive jewelry imported | | | | efforts will certainly help our environment and help |
| from China. What he found was a very high level of | | | | our planet. |