New personal electronic devices age poorly, and obsolescence is built-in. The hottest new smart-phones enjoy a comparatively short life-span, and soon join the old CD players, miniature flip-phones, and big, boxy-looking PCs that are relegated to the attic or garage. Each consumer generates around twenty pounds of electronic garbage each year on average, and Dallas e-waste processing helps them recycle the old units responsibly.
Most computer-based electronics contain toxic materials. Before flat-screens became standard, cathode ray tubes required barium, a poisonous metallic element also used in car parts and lighting. Cadmium is present in circuit boards, and exposure can harm bones and kidneys. Chromium, lead, and mercury are also found in many old parts, often framed by plastics that do not burn or decompose.
The public is well-informed about the need for recycling, but that awareness has had little impact on the growing presence of e-waste. It is common for manufacturing companies to have no officially expressed policy regarding ultimate disposal, and even environmentally progressive bodies such as the European Union can account for less than one quarter of the electronic garbage generated. United States figures go even lower, and much of that is exported for metal extraction.
In an idealized economic world, electronics manufacturers would take responsibility for recycling what they produce, and in some cases that is actually occurring. In Texas and some other states, television and computer makers are required to offer free-of-charge services for their customers, and to publicize those efforts. Although many companies are eager to participate, others insist that the problem is demand, not supply.
Even those who make an effort to safely dispose of old equipment have little idea of its final destination. In many areas neighborhood collection events are becoming popular, and some local businesses offer free pickup. Charitable organizations solicit old computers for re-purposing in schools or churches. In some cases equipment is simply sent to destination countries battling their own waste issues, and disassembled by workers enjoying few protections.
Once removed from local sites, there are few guarantees that this material will not become a part of a larger issue. Some poorer nations in Asia and Africa willingly accept shipments that provide economic opportunities for local people, even though there may be environmental penalties for doing so. In wealthier countries, creating a disposal program based on cost alone is not always a sustainable or wise choice.
Some electronics makers are seeking meaningful certification by local, independent environmental agencies. In many states there are already substantial fines for flaunting regulations, but no national laws uniformly regulate electronic waste processing. It has become extremely easy for people to have their old electronics taken away, but very hard to determine their final destination.
Residents of Austin and other Texas cities often choose a recycling company that is able to explain concisely how their own processes work. An increasing number maintain tracking data that follows discarded materials from start to finish, and exercise considerable care in choosing a final destination. Not only does this help prevent further environmental destruction, but also reduces health hazards for employees and their families.
Most computer-based electronics contain toxic materials. Before flat-screens became standard, cathode ray tubes required barium, a poisonous metallic element also used in car parts and lighting. Cadmium is present in circuit boards, and exposure can harm bones and kidneys. Chromium, lead, and mercury are also found in many old parts, often framed by plastics that do not burn or decompose.
The public is well-informed about the need for recycling, but that awareness has had little impact on the growing presence of e-waste. It is common for manufacturing companies to have no officially expressed policy regarding ultimate disposal, and even environmentally progressive bodies such as the European Union can account for less than one quarter of the electronic garbage generated. United States figures go even lower, and much of that is exported for metal extraction.
In an idealized economic world, electronics manufacturers would take responsibility for recycling what they produce, and in some cases that is actually occurring. In Texas and some other states, television and computer makers are required to offer free-of-charge services for their customers, and to publicize those efforts. Although many companies are eager to participate, others insist that the problem is demand, not supply.
Even those who make an effort to safely dispose of old equipment have little idea of its final destination. In many areas neighborhood collection events are becoming popular, and some local businesses offer free pickup. Charitable organizations solicit old computers for re-purposing in schools or churches. In some cases equipment is simply sent to destination countries battling their own waste issues, and disassembled by workers enjoying few protections.
Once removed from local sites, there are few guarantees that this material will not become a part of a larger issue. Some poorer nations in Asia and Africa willingly accept shipments that provide economic opportunities for local people, even though there may be environmental penalties for doing so. In wealthier countries, creating a disposal program based on cost alone is not always a sustainable or wise choice.
Some electronics makers are seeking meaningful certification by local, independent environmental agencies. In many states there are already substantial fines for flaunting regulations, but no national laws uniformly regulate electronic waste processing. It has become extremely easy for people to have their old electronics taken away, but very hard to determine their final destination.
Residents of Austin and other Texas cities often choose a recycling company that is able to explain concisely how their own processes work. An increasing number maintain tracking data that follows discarded materials from start to finish, and exercise considerable care in choosing a final destination. Not only does this help prevent further environmental destruction, but also reduces health hazards for employees and their families.
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