e-waste: what is your role and are gadget makers helping?

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E-WASTE
he amount of e-waste has skyrocket-
ed in the last 30 years, representing
20% of America’s trash in landfills and
70% of toxic waste materials. This phe-
nomenon is a result of rapid technological
advances and high demand from consum-
ers. E-waste contains thousands of different
components, including hazardous materials
that contribute to vast amounts of pollution.
In the 1980s, developed countries would
export their e-waste to developing countries
where the ‘recycling’ costs were cheaper
and the laws less strict towards protecting
the environment and their people. After a
public outcry, the 1989 Basel Convention
made the practice illegal, yet e-waste from
developed countries continues to be export-
ed to countries such as China, India, Paki-
stan, the Philippines, Nigeria, Ghana, and
Brazil, to name a few. As leaders in inno-
vation, technology giants should take more
responsibility towards designing products
and programs that are more sustainable.
As consumers, our society needs to make
an effort at prolonging the lifespans of elec-
tronic devices.
T
E-WASTE CONTAINS THOUSANDS
OF DIFFERENT COMPONENTS, IN-
CLUDING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
What is your role &
are gadget makers
helping?
GBRIonline.org/articles2
By Julia Guerra

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME
YOU UPDATED YOUR
IPHONE?
According to Green-
peace International,
that was probably with-
in the last two years.
The speedy lifespan
of electronic devices is a result of
rapid technological innovations
and high consumer demand for
the latest trends. Technology giants
have only encouraged this demand
by designing inefficient products.
For example, the lithium-ion battery
in your cell phone loses more than
half of its functionality after about
a year of heavy use. Getting a
replacement battery can be costly
and take several weeks to order,
plus you’ll lose all your data. So
it’s often easier for consumers to
frequently throw away their elec-
tronic devices, generating the
world’s largest type of municipal
waste, known as ‘e-waste’.
What is
e-waste?
E-waste, short for electronic
waste, can be defined as any
outdated or obsolete appliance
or electronic device found in your
home or office. Common types
of e-waste include television and
computer monitors, cell phones,
and printers, with computers and
Introduction THE LITHIUM-ION BATTERY IN YOUR CELL
PHONE LOSES MORE THAN HALF OF ITS
FUNCTIONALITY AFTER ABOUT A YEAR
OF HEAVY USE
E-WASTE CONTAINS THOUSANDS OF DIFFERENT
MATERIALS SOME OF SUCH ARE HEAVY TOXIC CHEM-
ICALS, SUCH LEAD, AND HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS,
SUCH AS BROMINATED FLAME RETARDANTS
GBRIonline.org/articles 3
A
cell phones as the biggest culprits
as consumers replace these items
the most frequently. E-waste con-
tains thousands of different mate-
rials some of such are heavy toxic
chemicals, such lead, and hazard-
ous chemicals, such as brominated
flame retardants. If not properly
disposed of, toxins from e-waste can
enter the soil, air, and water sup-
plies.

he term e-waste is a very broad
definition that covers a wide
range of electronic devices that
are composed of thousands of
different components, some of
which are hazardous materials. What
constitutes specifically as e-waste can
vary between different countries and
even cities. For example, in 1995, the
EPA enacted the universal waste rule to
exempt certain widely generated waste
products, such as thermostats and fluo-
rescent lamps, even though they contain
hazardous components. Below is a par-
tial list with some widely accepted types
of e-waste:
• Desk computer monitors with LCD
screens
• Laptop computers with LCD screens
• Portable DVD players with LCD
screens
• Televisions with LCD screens
• Plasma televisions
• Computer keyboards and mice
• Cathode ray tubes (CRTs)
• Cash registers and oscilloscopes
containing CRTs
• Televisions containing CRTs
• Telephones, cell phones, and
answering machines
• Video cassettes
• Calculators
• Microwaves
• Printers, copiers and fax machines
• VCRs
• Cable/satellite
• Game consoles
• Converter boxes
The amount of e-waste has skyrocketed in the last 30 years,
representing 20% of the US’s trash in landfills and 70% of
toxic waste materials. According to a U.N. study, 41.8 mil-
lion tonnes of “e-waste” were dumped around the globe in
2014 and only an estimated 6.5 million tonnes were taken for
recycling. The United States and China were the chief contrib-
utors with U.S at 7.1 million tonnes and China at 6.0 million
tonnes.
Global volumes of e-waste are likely to rise by more than 20
percent to 50 million tonnes in 2018 according to the same
U.N study. These figures that we should not be proud of is
huge and is increasing at an alarming rate.
T
How Much e-Waste is
Actually out There?
E-Waste
as a very
broad
term
What constitutes
specifically as e-waste can
vary between different
countries
The amount of e-waste has
skyrocketed in the last 30
years, representing 20% of
the US’s trash in landfills
and 70% of toxic waste
materials

10 FACTS
ABOUT E-WASTE
In 2009, discarded TVs, computers,
peripherals (including printers, scanners, fax
machines) mice, keyboards, and cell phones
totaled about 2.37 million short tons
E-waste represents 2% of America's
trash in landfills, but it equals 70% of overall toxic
waste
20 to 50 million metric tons
of e-waste are disposed worldwide
every year
A large number of what is
labeled as "e-waste" is actually not
waste at all, but rather whole
electronic equipment or parts that
are readily marketable for reuse or
can be recycled for materials
recovery
Only 12.5% of e-waste
is currently recycledFor every 1 million cell
phones that are recycled, 35,274
lbs of copper, 772 lbs of silver, 75
lbs of gold, and 33 lbs of palladium
can be recovered
Recycling 1 million
laptops saves the energy equivalent
to the electricity used by 3,657 U.S.
homes in a year
E-waste is still the
fastest growing municipal
waste stream in America,
according to the EPA
It takes 530 lbs of
fossil fuel, 48 lbs of chemicals,
and 1.5 tons of water to
manufacture one computer and
monitor
Cell phones and other
electronic items contain high
amounts of precious metals like
gold or silver. Americans dump
phones containing over $60
million in gold/silver every year
Sources:
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/detox/electronics/the-e-waste-problem/where-does-e-waste-end-up/
http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/09/the-global-cost-of-electronic-waste/502019/
http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/65583.html
Other sources:
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "Wastes - Resource Conservation - Common Wastes & Materials - eCycling." Web Accessed April 11, 2015.
• Slade, Giles. "iWaste." Mother Jones, 2007. Web Accessed April 11, 2015.

n rechargeable batteries, printer inks, and photocopying machines, you will find cadmium, which can be
absorbed through the inhalation of contaminated dust and fumes, as well as through food. Acute expo-
sure will cause flu-like symptoms such as weakness, chills, fever, headaches, sweating, and muscular
pain. Long-term exposure to cadmium can cause serious damage to the kidneys and bone structure.
In some batteries and lightning components of LCDS there’s mercury, one of the most toxic but widely used
metals in electronics. Mercury is a high volatile substance and once released into the atmosphere, it can
transmit a global impact far beyond the location of its re-
lease. While mercury can be both inhaled and ingested,
the most common way for it to reach humans is through
bioaccumulation. In this case, mercury pollutes water
bodies where it transforms into a highly toxic material
that travels up to high levels in the food chain, mostly
commonly in fish. Mercury is particularly dangerous for
the developing brain and central nervous systems in fe-
tuses and young children. There have been recent studies
that have indicated that mercury exposure also contributes to cardiovascular and heart disease.
LONG-TERM EXPOSURE TO CADMIUM CAN
CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE KIDNEYS
AND BONE STRUCTURE
Mercury is particularly dangerous
for the developing brain and central
nervous systems in fetuses and
young children
Are there Human Health and
Environmental Issues with e-waste?
I

WHEN INCINERATED, PVC RELEASES
CHLORINATED DIOXINS AND
FURANS, WHICH ARE EXTREMELY
TOXIC EVEN IN LOW LEVELS
Another common
and hazardous
material in electron-
ic components is
lead, which can be
found in cathode
ray tubes (CRT), a
device used to dis-
play images. Even
just short-term ex-
posure can cause
diarrhea, vomiting,
convulsions, coma,
and death. It is es-
pecially dangerous
for young children
because it can contribute to brain and blood disorders.
In adults, it can damage the nervous, blood, and
reproductive systems.
Yet another hazardous material is brominated
flame-retardants, which are used in circuit boards
and plastic casings, make products more flame
resistant. Since, they don’t break down easily,
they remain in the environment for long periods
of time. When incinerated, its particles can be
found in the dust and air. Long-term exposure can
cause impaired learning and memory functions,
and even severe hormonal disorders. Fortunately,
many electronic manufacturers have begun to phase out
brominated flame-retardants because of their high
toxicity.
A major pollutant that is common in electrical devices is
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a chlorinated plastic used for
insulation on wires and cables. When incinerated, PVC
releases chlorinated dioxins and furans, which are ex-
tremely toxic even in low levels.
In 2012, the US generated 3.412 million tons of e-waste
with only 1 million tons having been recycled. The re-
mainder was trashed in either landfills or incinerators,
creating vast amounts of pollution and toxic waste. In
developing countries, the majority of those who work
to ‘recycle’ e-waste are children, who are espe-
cially vulnerable to the affects of high levels of
toxicity.

n the 1980s, as the rise in consumer electronics rapidly began to grow, many countries found that they did
not have the capacity or ability to properly dispose of vast amounts of hazardous waste. The solution for
developed countries to export the e-waste to developing countries where the ‘recycling’ costs were cheaper
and the laws less strict towards protecting the environment and their people.
When it was revealed that toxic landfills in Africa were full of trash imported from rich, developed countries
there was a huge public outcry. This led to the adoption of the 1989 Basel Convention on the Control of Trans-
boundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, which made the dumping of e-waste to poorer
countries illegal. Amongst its most important contributions has been to create a large body of technical guide-
lines on the management of specific waste streams designed for the use of governments at all levels. By the
1990s, the first e-waste recycling systems were being implemented in the US, EU, and Japan.
The Basel Convention has also assisted developing countries with implementing the provisions of the convention
through capacity building and training projects. However, the Basel Convention is non-bind, so while many
countries have signed it, not all have ratified it, such as the United States.
The solution for developed countries to export the
e-waste to developing countries where the ‘recycling’
costs were cheaper and the laws less strict towards
protecting the environment and their people
A short history on e-waste disposal
I
Photo Credit:
Andrew McConnell / Panos

ess than 15% of e-waste is currently
being recycled globally, raising con-
cerns around the world about increasing
amounts of pollution. E-waste continue
to be exported legally and illegally from
Europe and the Americas to developing coun-
tries.
Since the first public outcry over e-waste land-
fills in Africa in the 1980s, there have been
great strides towards phasing-out hazardous
materials in electronic devices. For example,
brands like Sony Ericsson, Nokia, Apple, that
consist of more than 50% of the mobile mar-
ket, have eliminated the use of brominated
flame-retardants in their devices. However,
there is still much to be improved upon in
order to make the technology industry more
sustainable.
Here are some methods in which e-waste is
currently disposed of around the world:
Reuse
When an electronic device’s life cycle is
prolonged, it ultimately means that there’s
less e-waste produced. Reusing a product can
be done by either donation or by replacing
products with spare parts. However, many
old products still end up being exported to
developing countries. The lifespans of elec-
tronic devices in developing countries is much
longer than that of richer countries, but again,
e-waste still ends up improperly disposed of
in landfills scattered throughout the world.
This makes reusing a tactic that moderates the
problem but does not eliminate it.
How is e-waste
disposed of now?
L
BRANDS LIKE SONY ERICSSON, NOKIA,
APPLE, THAT CONSIST OF MORE THAN 50%
OF THE MOBILE MARKET, HAVE ELIMINATED
THE USE OF BROMINATED FLAME-RETAR-
DANTS IN THEIR DEVICES
Less than 15% of e-waste
is currently being recycled
globally
E-waste continue to be ex-
ported legally and illegally
from Europe and the Ameri-
cas to developing countries

Recycle
In developed countries, recycling is performed
in purpose-built recycling plants under controlled
conditions with highly trained staff. By recycling 1
million laptops, the US saves the energy equivalent
of electricity used by 3,657 households. Despite
this, only 29% of e-waste generated in the US is
recycled.
Many developing countries, in contrast, use rudi-
mentary methods to recycle their e-waste and have
no environmental standards. Children, who are
especially vulnerable to hazardous materials, are
often the ones to perform this work by hand with
no gloves or face masks. Uninformed about the
health risks, workers at e-waste sites are prone to
skin rashes, cancer, weakening of the
BY RECYCLING 1 MILLION LAPTOPS, THE US SAVES THE
ENERGY EQUIVALENT OF ELECTRICITY USED
BY 3,657 HOUSEHOLDS
immune system, and respiratory, nerve, kidney, and
brain damage.
Incineration
A common waste treatment practice throughout the
world is incineration. In developing countries, this prac-
tice is done openly, releasing heavy metals, such as
lead, cadmium and mercury into the air as ashes and
dust.
CHILDREN, WHO ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO HAZARDOUS
MATERIALS, ARE OFTEN THE ONES TO PERFORM THIS WORK BY
HAND WITH NO GLOVES OR FACE MASKS. UNINFORMED ABOUT
THE HEALTH RISKS, WORKERS AT E-WASTE SITES ARE PRONE TO
SKIN RASHES, CANCER, WEAKENING OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM, AND
RESPIRATORY, NERVE, KIDNEY, AND BRAIN DAMAGE

urrently, there are 20 to 50 mil-
lion metric tons of e-waste being
dumped worldwide. This practice
continues despite stricter regulations
and the fact that many of the com-
ponents of e-waste can be readily re-used or
recycled. For every 1 million cell phones that
are recycled, 33 lbs of palladium, 35,274
lbs of copper, 772 lbs of silver, and 75 lbs
of gold can be recovered. Yet only 12.5%
of e-waste is currently being recycled. Toxic
chemical from e-waste is still leaching into the
land and being released into the atmosphere,
impacting communities worldwide.
In order to solve this issue, there has to be a
full transformation of the way in which our
society consumes and disposes of e-waste.
First, technology giants need to take respon-
sibility for their end-of-life products. Take-back
programs should be created by technology
giants to offer free and convenient recycling
of their products to all their customers. Mobile
phone companies such as Nokia and Apple
have already developed extensive take-back
programs, yet there is still very few take back
programs for other electronic device industries,
such as televisions. Sony reports that it collects
53% of its olds products in Japan, where there
is strict legislation, which is five times better
than the global average for a major PC pro-
ducer.
The elimination of hazardous materials in
electronic devices and the recycling of parts in
the manufacturing process would a major step
toward reducing e-waste. Recycling is already
What can we do
about this?
C
TECHNOLOGY GIANTS NEED TO TAKE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR END-OF-
LIFE PRODUCTS

Designing electronic devices to
be more durable and easy to
repair would be a final step
towards a sustainable future
an extensive process, even when products are not full of hazardous materials. So if the technology giants
designed more sustainable products, it would be easier and safer to recycle parts from old products into new
ones.
Designing electronic devices to be more durable and easy to repair would be a final step towards a sustain-
able future. The rate at which our society replaces electronic devices places a huge impact on resources,
health, and the environment. As leaders in innovation, technology giants should give greater consideration to
durability and ease of repair.

TECHNOLOGY GIANTS NEED TO CONSIDER CREATING PROGRAMS FOR
CONSUMERS TO CONVENIENTLY RECYCLE THEIR OLD DEVICES
one of these solutions are simple, but it is possible to change our society to become more inno-
vative, efficient, and sustainable. Technology giants could be on the forefront of this change by
designing products that are more durable, fully recyclable, and eliminate the usage of hazardous
materials. In addition, technology giants need to consider creating programs that for consumers
to conveniently recycle their old devices. As consumers, our society needs to curb its demand
for the latest trends by extending the lifespans of electronic devices. With consumer electronics projected to
reach 2.5 billion units, toxic landfills and vast amounts of pollution are not the only issues that accompany
this problem. There also needs to be considerations for responsibly sourced resources and the minimization of
packaging materials.
SO, DO YOU REALLY NEED THE RECENTLY RELEASED IPHONE 7 PLUS?
HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO RECYCLE YOUR E-WASTE SAFELY
1. Find an e-waste recycler certified through the Basel Action Network (BAN.org). BAN is a non-profit
organization devoted to certifying e-Stewards, recyclers who are committed to safely and
responsibly recycling electronics.
2. Check with your local government, schools, and universities for additional responsible
recycling options
3. Check with your gadget manufacturer if they accept your old equipment
4. Check with your local electronic retail stores if they accept electronic waste
5. Donate your electronic equipment if it’s still working
More ideas? Do you have any additional tips, suggestions or ideas for properly recycling e-waste?
Visit gbrionline.org/articles and post your ideas, suggestions and tips
Conclusion
N

References and resources:
http://www.ban.org/
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100222081911.htm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/electronic-waste-developing-world
http://sites.nicholas.duke.edu/loribennear/2012/11/15/electronic-waste-disposal/
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/toxics/electronics/the-e-waste-problem/
where-does-e-waste-end-up/
https://www.epa.gov/international-cooperation/cleaning-electronic-waste-e-waste
https://www.epa.gov/smm-electronics/moving-sustainable-electronics-forward-update-national-strate-
gy-electronics

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