Picture: This picture shows hundreds of computers, monitors and televisions in a landfill. As of 2007, there are about 2.25 million tons of electronics in landfills.
Summary: In short America is not disposing of electronics properly. There are millions of tons of electronics sitting in landfills and all of them contain toxins that could have negative effects on humans. One toxin that each electronic contains is lead, in which the size of a pinhead can cause brain damage to children. The USA only recycles about 15-20% of electronics correctly. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that one million recycled cell phones translates to“35,274 pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold, and 33 pounds of palladium.” A lot of electronics are also just thrown into the ocean where they are washed up on shores of other countries. To get rid of the excess electronics, they could be burned and release harmful chemicals into the air. Stores like Staples and Best Buy have programs that safely and correctly recycle used or unwanted electronics.
Opinion: I think that this should be something that should have more attention brought to it. If it continues it could destroy our earth and the oceans. I knew that trash in the ocean was a big deal but I never heard of electronics in the ocean being a problem.
Questions:
1 - Why am I just hearing about this now? It seems like it should be on the news.
2 - Can big electronics like ovens or refrigerators be recycled as well?
3 - Why doesn't the school have some sort of recycling project like this?
Opinion/Reflection:
ReplyDeleteI can't believe that we only recycle 15-20% of electronics correctly. We're all about recycling papers and plastics, yet we let millions of electronics be thrown into the ocean. It really doesn't make any sense, and like Pat said, how come this issue isn't very well known to the public? I'm sure a lot more people would have tried to stop this from happening in the first place if they only knew what kind of negative impacts it would have on our planet, including myself. Next time I need to get rid of some kind of electronics, I will make sure I go to either Staples or Best Buy.
Expansion:
"2. Can big electronics like ovens or refrigerators be recycled as well?"
http://www.partselect.com/JustForFun/Guide-to-Recycling-Appliances-and-Electronics.aspx
Apparently, there are certain procedures that must be followed when recycling items like freezers, refrigerators, and air conditioners. But you could always just re-purpose any big appliances instead of disposing them. If the appliance is still working, you could donate them to local charities like Red Cross or Habitat for Humanity. You could also donate them to places like Goodwill or the Salvation Army where they can re-sell them. The profits would obviously go towards the charity. If the appliance does not work, you could just donate them for scrap metal.
Opinion:
ReplyDeletePat, i agree with you about how this is a big deal and more attention need to be brought to this. i thing that it is crazy that we don't recycle this stuff and some of it just gets thrown into the ocean.
once i get a new phone i am definitely going to find a way to recycle it and not throw it out because i do not want it to get burned and have it release harmful chemicals.
Answer to one of the questions
yes you can recycle big electronic like refrigerators and ovens because they have a lot of steel and other metals that can be easily recycled when it gets taken apart.
3 new questions
Do people go to landfills and take out electronics to recycle them?
what does it mean when they say it translates to 35,274 pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold, and 33 pounds of palladium?
it says in 2007 there were 2.25 million tons of electronics in a landfill, what did they do with all of that?
This is such a serious problem! There are mounds of our old electronics in other countries being taken apart by little kids, not good for their health either. Also to answer number 3, we are working on it now. Consider joining SSF to help ::)
ReplyDeleteOpinion/Reflection: I agree with Pat. I think that this should talked about on the news, on the internet and everywhere else because people need to know about this. I never knew about it until now. And I also think that the places that do recycle the electronics correctly should publicize it so that so people will know about it and actually start to fix this issue.
ReplyDeleteQuestions:
1.) How can you make it so that more people know about this? this is a very important topic and it effects us so we need people to find out.
2.)Should we make a law saying that people have to recycle their technology to stop all this harmful pollution?
3.) What would happen if we kept not recycling the electronics, how would it affect us and our environment and will it cause a big change over time?
4.) What would happen to the animals in the water if they ate some of the things thrown out in the ocean?
This article surprise me at how much electronic waste there is landfills. I can't beleive that now, there are over 2.25 tons of electronic waste in landfills. The 35,274 pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold, and 33 pounds of palladium could definitely have been used for more, updated technology. It is horrible that released gasses are polluting our atmosphere. The answer to Pat's question (number 2) is yes, electrical companies like Peco will come to your house for electrical appliances, small and large, and recycle them.
ReplyDelete