Electronic waste and Talk:Ron Davies (footballer, born 1942): Difference between pages

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[[Image:Monitor in gutter.jpg|thumb|Abandoned [[computer display|monitor]]]]

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'''Electronic waste''', "'''e-waste'''" or "'''Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment'''" ("'''WEEE'''") is a [[waste type]] consisting of any broken or unwanted electrical or electronic appliance. It is a point of concern considering that many components of such equipment are considered toxic and are not [[biodegradable]].

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== Definition of electronic waste ==

Electronic waste includes [[computers]], entertainment [[electronics]], [[mobile phones]] and other items that have been discarded by their original users. While there is no generally accepted definition of electronic waste, in most cases electronic waste consists of electronic products that were used for data processing, telecommunications, or entertainment in private households and businesses that are now considered obsolete, broken, or irreparable. Despite its common classification as a waste, disposed electronics are a considerable category of secondary resource due to their significant suitability for direct reuse (for example, many fully functional computers and components are discarded during upgrades), refurbishing, and material recycling of its constituent raw materials (listed below). Reconceptualization of electronic waste as a resource thus preempts its potentially hazardous qualities.

In 1991 the first electronic waste recycling system was implemented in [[Switzerland]] beginning with the collection of refrigerators. Over the years, all other electric and electronic devices were gradually added to the system. Legislation followed in 1998 and since January 2005 it has been possible to return all electronic waste to the sales points and other collection points free of charge. There are two established PROs (Producer Responsibility Organisations): SWICO mainly handling electronic waste and SENS mainly responsible for electrical appliances. The total amount of recycled electronic waste exceeds 10 kg per capita per year. <ref>[http://www.umwelt-schweiz.ch/buwal/eng/fachgebiete/fg_abfall/abfallwegweiser/e-schrott/index.html Umwelt Schweiz], Accessed 24.11.06</ref><ref>[http://www.swico.ch Swico], Accessed 24.11.06</ref><ref>[http://www.sens.ch SENS], Accessed 24.11.06</ref>

The European Union is implementing a similar system described in the [[Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive]] (WEEE 2002/96/EC). The WEEE Directive has been transposed in national laws and become effective. The manufacturers became financially responsible for the compliance to the WEEE directive since 13 August 2005. By the end of 2006 – and with one or two years' delay for the new [[EU]] members – every country has to recycle at least 4 kg of e-waste per capita.

'''Definition of electronic waste''' according to the [[WEEE directive]]:

* Large household appliances ([[oven]]s, [[refrigerator]]s etc.)

* Small household appliances ([[toaster]]s, [[vacuum cleaner]]s etc.)

* Office & communication ([[Personal computer|PCs]], [[Computer printer|printers]], [[telephone|phones]], [[fax]]es etc.)

* Entertainment electronics ([[TV]]s, [[HiFi]]s, portable [[CD player]]s etc.)

* Lighting equipment (mainly [[fluorescent tube]]s)

* E-tools ([[drill|drilling machine]]s, electric [[lawnmower]]s etc.)

* Sports & leisure equipment (electronic [[toy]]s, training machines etc.)

* Medical appliances and instruments

* Surveillance equipment

* Automatic issuing systems (ticket issuing machines etc.)

==Problems caused by electronic waste==

Electronic waste is a valuable source for secondary raw materials, if treated properly, however if not treated properly it is major source of [[toxic waste|toxins]]. Rapid technology change, low initial cost and even [[planned obsolescence]] have resulted in a fast growing problem around the globe. Technical solutions are available but in most cases a legal framework, a collection system, logistics and other services need to be implemented before a technical solution can be applied. Electronic waste represents 2 percent of America's trash in landfills, but it equals 70 percent of overall [[toxic waste]].<ref name="iWaste">{{cite news|last=Slade|first=Giles|title=iWaste|publisher=Mother Jones|date=[[2007-04-01]]|url=http://www.motherjones.com/commentary/columns/2007/03/iwaste.html|accessdate=2007-04-03}}</ref>

Due to lower environmental standards and working conditions in [[China]], [[India]], [[Kenya]], and elsewhere, electronic waste is being sent to these countries for processing – in most cases illegally. Delhi and [[Bangalore]] in India and [[Guiyu]] in [[Shantou]] region of China have electronic waste processing areas.<ref>BAN and SVTC. 2002. "Exporting Harm: The High-Tech Trashing of Asia". Seattle and San Jose: Basel Action Network and Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, February 25. Available: http://www.ban.org/E-waste/technotrashfinalcomp.pdf </ref> Uncontrolled burning, disassembly, and disposal are causing environmental and health problems, including [[occupational safety and health]] effects among those directly involved, due to the methods of processing the waste. Trade in electronic waste is controlled by the [[Basel Convention]].

Electronic waste is of concern largely due to the toxicity of some of the substances if processed improperly. The toxicity is due in part to [[lead (element)|lead]], [[mercury (element)|mercury]], [[cadmium]] and a number of other substances. A typical computer monitor may contain more than 6% lead by weight, much of which is in the lead glass of the CRT. Up to thirty-eight separate [[chemical element]]s are incorporated into electronic waste items. The [[sustainability|unsustainability]] of discarded electronics and computer technology is another reason for the need to [[recycle]] – or perhaps more practically, [[reuse]] – electronic waste.

Electronic waste processing systems have matured in recent years following increased regulatory, public, and commercial scrutiny, and a commensurate increase in entrepreneurial interest. Part of this evolution has involved greater diversion of electronic waste from energy intensive, down-cycling processes (eg. conventional recycling) where equipment is reverted to a raw material form. This diversion is achieved through reuse and refurbishing. The environmental and social benefits of reuse are several: diminished demand for new products and their commensurate requirement for virgin raw materials (with their own environmental externalities not factored into the cost of the raw materials) and larger quantities of pure water and electricity for associated manufacturing, less packaging per unit, availability of technology to wider swaths of society due to greater affordability of products, and diminished use of landfills.

Challenges remain, when materials cannot or will not be reused, conventional recycling or disposal via landfill often follow. Standards for both approaches vary widely by jurisdiction, whether in developed or developing countries. The complexity of the various items to be disposed of, cost of environmentally sound recycling systems, and the need for concerned and concerted action to collect and systematically process equipment are the resources most lacked -- though this is changing. Many of the plastics used in electronic equipment contain flame retardants. These are generally [[halogen]]s added to the plastic resin, making the plastics difficult to recycle.

==Trends in electronic waste recycling==

[[Image:WEEE man.png|thumb|350px|right|WEEE Man]]

In the 1990s some European countries banned the disposal of electronic waste in [[landfill]]s. This created an e-waste processing industry in Europe. Early in 2003 the [[EU]] presented the [[Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive|WEEE]] and [[Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive|RoHS]] directives for implementation in 2005 and 2006.

Some states in the US developed policies banning [[cathode ray tube|CRTs]] from landfills. Some e-waste processing is carried out within the US. The processing may be dismantling into metals, plastics and [[circuit board]]s or shredding of whole appliances. From 2004 the state of California introduced a [[Electronic Waste Recycling Fee]] on all new monitors and televisions sold to cover the cost of recycling. The amount of the fee depends on the size of the monitor. That amount was adjusted on July 1, 2005 in order to match the real cost of recycling.

A typical electronic waste recycling plant as found in some industrialized countries combines the best of dismantling for component recovery with increased capacity to process large amounts of electronic waste in a cost effective-manner. Material is fed into a hopper, which travels up a conveyor and is dropped into the mechanical separator, which is followed by a number of screening and granulating machines. The entire recycling machinery is enclosed and employs a dust collection system.

The [[European Union]], [[South Korea]], [[Japan]] and [[Taiwan]] have already demanded that sellers and manufacturers of electronics be responsible for recycling 75% of them.

Many Asian countries have legislated, or will do so, for electronic waste recycling.

The United States Congress is considering a number of electronic waste bills including the [[National Computer Recycling Act]] introduced by Congressman [[Mike Thompson]] (D-CA). This bill has continually stalled, however.

In the meantime, several states have passed their own laws regarding electronic waste management. California was the first state to enact such legislation, followed by Maryland, Maine, Washington and Minnesota.

As a way to recycle obsolete or non-working computer hardware, some people have recorded videos of people smashing computer hardware with a [[sledgehammer]] for comic purposes. Some e-waste has even been submitted to [[museum]]s for historical reasons.

== Chemical elements contained in electronic waste ==

===Elements in bulk===

[[lead]], [[tin]], [[copper]], [[silicon]], [[carbon]], [[iron]] and [[aluminium]]

===Elements in small amounts===

[[cadmium]] and [[mercury (element)|mercury]],

===Elements in trace amounts===

[[germanium]], [[gallium]], [[barium]], [[nickel]], [[tantalum]], [[indium]], [[vanadium]], [[terbium]], [[beryllium]], [[gold]], [[europium]], [[titanium]], [[ruthenium]], [[cobalt]], [[palladium]], [[manganese]], [[silver]], [[antimony]], [[bismuth]], [[selenium]], [[niobium]], [[yttrium]], [[rhodium]], [[platinum]], [[arsenic]], [[lithium]], [[boron]], [[americium]]

===List of examples of devices containing these elements===

Almost all electronics contain lead & tin (as solder) and copper (as wire & PCB tracks), though the use of lead-free solder is now spreading rapidly.

* Lead: [[Solder]], [[Cathode ray tube|CRT Monitors]] ([[Lead]] in glass), [[Lead-acid battery]]

* Tin: Solder

* Copper: copper wire, [[Printed circuit board]] tracks

* Aluminium: nearly all electronic goods using more than a few watts of power ([[heatsink]]s)

* Iron: Steel chassis, cases & fixings

* Silicon: [[glass]], [[transistor]]s, ICs, [[Printed circuit board]]s.

* [[Nickel-cadmium battery|nickel & cadmium]]: Nickel-cadmium rechargeable [[Battery (electricity)|batteries]]

* Lithium: [[Lithium-ion battery]]

* Zinc: plating for steel parts

* Gold: connector plating, primarily in computer equipment

* Americium: Smoke alarms (radioactive source)

* Germanium: 1950s & 1960s transistorised electronics (transistors)

* Mercury: fluorescent tubes (numerous applications), tilt switches (pinball games, mechanical doorbells)

* Sulphur:[[Lead-acid battery]]

* Carbon: Steel, plastics, resistors. In almost all electronic equipment.

==See also==

{{portalpar|Electronics|Nuvola_apps_ksim.png}}

* [[Digger gold]]

* [[Electronics]]

* [[Electronic Waste Recycling Fee]]

* [[Free Geek]] - Recycling and re-using computer equipment based on the 'Free to all' philosophy.

* [[Green computing|Green Computing]]

* [[Periodic table]]

* [[Recycling]]

* [[Waste]]

* [[Waste types]]

* [[List of waste management companies]]

* [[List of waste management topics]]

* [[List of solid waste treatment technologies]]

* [[List of Superfund sites in the United States]]

* [[List of topics dealing with environmental issues]]

* [[Pollution]]

* [[Superfund]]

* [[Waste types]]

==External links==

*[http://ewasteguide.info e-Waste Guide] A knowledge base for the sustainable recycling of eWaste

*[http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/weee_index.htm European Commission WEEE page]

**[http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2003:037:0019:0023:EN:PDF RoHS directive] (PDF)

**[http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2003:037:0024:0038:EN:PDF WEEE directive] (PDF)

*[http://www.epa.gov/ecycling US EPA's 'eCycling' Program]

*[http://www.boe.ca.gov/sptaxprog/ewaste.htm California electronic waste fee]

*[http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=3807 Inside the Digital Dump], a photoessay from [[Foreign Policy Magazine]]

*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4548856.stm BBC Article "Gadget recycling foxes consumers"]

*[http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/toxics/electronics Greenpeace Electronic Waste Campaign]

*[http://www.cei.org/gencon/025,04386.cfm Mandated Recycling of Electronics: A Lose-Lose-Lose Proposition]

*[http://www.usedcisco.com/press-cmp1.aspx CMP article "Cash from Waste"]

*[http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=e8cbd31a-7815-4a6c-a7f5-8625fe3f8a20&k=70609 Recent 'bust' illuminates underground electronics export business in Canada] Canada.com accessed December 22, 2006

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==References==

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[[Category:Electronics]]

[[Category:Environment]]

[[Category:Electronic waste]]

[[Category:Recyclable materials]]

[[Category:Waste]]

[[Category:Waste management]]

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