eWaste is bad for the environment



 

Used computer recycling is critical because of the poisons in eWaste
  (ewaste = garbage computers and electronics)

Used computer recycling is the only way to keep fierce poisons out of the water supply. There is a ticking time bomb of these old computers and electronics awaiting disposal.

This page deals with the story of the poisons.
For a more complete picture, see our articles on ewaste and used computer recycling and green computing.

The poisons in old computers and electronics:

As currently produced, components of computers and other electronics are loaded with metals that are poisonous to human and other life.  They exist at levels that are 30-100 times the level for classifying a waste as hazardous.

These heavy metals leach into the water supply if they are put into landfills with your usual garbage. 

The only way to safely dispose of electronics is to bring them to a recycling facility where nearly all parts are removed, including the poisonous metals, so they can be used again.
These poisons are arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, selenium, and silver.

They occur in all computers, circuitry, circuit boards, hard drives, expansion cards, power supplies, keyboards, modems, routers, telephones and cell phones,  copiers, fax machines,  cables, wiring, iPods, televisions, stereo and video equipment, speakers, toner cartridges, lithium-ion batteries,  routers, video game controllers, microfiche, magnetic media - -you get the idea. (See a more complete list.)

Old computer disposal must be done safely. Recycling is the only way we have to remove these poisons.

Information about how and where to recycle these things is in the bar to the left.

Some counties in New Jersey and elsewhere provide electronics recycling service to residences if they drop them off. Businesses are not supported by any New Jersey counties we know of, and this kind of offering is rare nationwide. For your local area, we suggest using a search engine with "electronics recycling" and the name of your county or state.

Links to information about the recycling programs of some counties will be listed on the left hand bar of this page.

Tell your friends. We must recycle used computers and electronics. Tell your congresspeople. We need a standard to be set to protect us all.