In recent years, there’s been a tremendous increase in Americans’ electronic waste (e-waste) production. E-waste represents two percent of U.S. landfill trash, but it equals 70 percent of overall toxic waste. Americans dispose of two million tons of electronic products every year—including 50 million computers and 130 million cell phones. In 2010, the United States will discard 400 million electronic units. To help slow this process, consider these tips:
Make sure your e-waste is going to an e-stewards recycler. This means the recycler has taken and demonstrated the Pledge of Responsible Recycling required by the Basel Action Network (BAN), creators of the e-stewards program.
Check with your local government, schools and news outlets for proper recycling options. Government offices and schools often assign days for residents to bring their unwanted electronics to a designated drop-off location for proper recycling. Many times this information is posted on a community calendar that can be found on your local newspaper’s website.
Donate your electronics. It removes the possibility of having your products contribute to e-waste pollution and health hazards. It also provides others with an opportunity to access technology that may not be readily available to them.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has implemented a WasteWise Electronics Challenge to persuade Americans to reuse, upgrade or remanufacture e-waste. Some activities it encourages include:
• Buying remanufactured equipment instead of new equipment.
• Contracting with suppliers to lease electronics.
• Recycling equipment that can’t be reused.
The program also encourages electronic product manufacturers to do their part in reducing e-waste. Some options include:
• Redesigning an electronic product so it can be easily upgraded or remanufactured.
• Establishing a take-back program for electronic products from customers and remanufacturing or upgrading these products for resale.
