| With new technologies emerging everyday, | | | | once they are no longer of use are |
| and more and more electronics becoming | | | | causing serious environmental issues. |
| obsolete, our planet has a new | | | | The good news is that people are |
| challenge: what to do with electronic | | | | becoming more aware of the problem of |
| waste. Pollution from obsolete, broken | | | | e-waste and companies are emerging to do |
| or otherwise discarded electronics is | | | | something about it. It takes special |
| known as "e-waste," and is becoming a | | | | facilities and technologies to take |
| great concern for industrialized | | | | discarded electronics and recycle them |
| nations. | | | | in a safe and environmentally friendly |
| What many people may not realize is that | | | | way. Electronics recycling companies are |
| obsolete electronics devises are thrown | | | | doing just that in response to the need |
| out everyday and end up in landfills. | | | | to effectively manage e-waste. |
| What is concerning about this is that | | | | Now that the effects of this pollution |
| most electronics are made of metals and | | | | are apparent, people need to not only |
| chemicals that are hazardous to the | | | | become aware of the problem, but take |
| environment. Anything from a calculator | | | | advantage of solutions to fix it. |
| to a laptop can be an environmental | | | | E-waste is and will continue to be |
| danger. Toxins like mercury, lead, | | | | detrimental to the environment unless we |
| selenium and arsenic are just a few of | | | | take advantage of electronic recycling. |
| the chemicals and materials that leak | | | | Effective, safe and simple: electronic |
| from discarded electronics into the | | | | recycling centers can safely recycle all |
| ground, contaminating soil, water, and | | | | the devises listed above as well as |
| eventually, people and wildlife. | | | | speakers, plasma screens, copiers, |
| Although more people are becoming aware, | | | | stereos, keyboards and other electronics |
| most people still don't understand the | | | | that you may never have thought about |
| impact that electronic devises have on | | | | recycling. |
| the environment. Most people don't think | | | | Because of the severity of e-waste |
| to recycle their calculator, phone | | | | pollution, and the action taken by |
| system, printer, fax machine or | | | | individuals and legislation, electronic |
| television. They end up on the curb to | | | | recycling has become a multi-billion |
| be picked up and taken to the landfill. | | | | dollar a year industry. As a matter of |
| Who would have known that your old | | | | fact, e-waste is the fastest growing |
| television screen and computer monitor | | | | segment of municipal solid waste. Find |
| contained lead and arsenic? Or that your | | | | out if there is an electronic recycling |
| cell phone's LCD screen is toxic to the | | | | center in your area to get your family, |
| environment if not disposed of properly | | | | friends and business involved with the |
| through an electronics recycling center? | | | | solution to e-waste. |
| Everyday things that people throw out | | | | |