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