High-Tech Trash

high-tech trash = e-waste

Personal computers and other electronics contain parts that pose no danger in daily use, but become toxic without proper disposal. The U.S. alone annually casts off tens of millions of PCs and TVs and nearly 100 million cell phones, largely without precaution for their potentially hazardous components.

Of the small portion of e-waste sent to domestic recyclers, most is shipped to environmentally unsound salvage operations in the developing world. In China, the air near some electronics salvage operations (where they burn circuit boards to extract metals) contains the highest amounts of dioxin measured anywhere in the world. Soils are saturated with the chemical. China now forbids the import of e-waste, so the business goes to other third world countries globally.

The United States holds the record for the most waste per person compared to any other country. We are the greatest polluters in the world, and of the world.

COMPARING ENERGY SAVINGS
Industries can save large amounts of energy by using scrap, rather than harvesting and processing virgin, raw materials. Savings also come in the manufacturing process. When waste glass is used to make bottles, furnaces can be set at lower temperatures.

HOW MUCH ARE THE SAVINGS?
For aluminum, recycling can cut energy consumption by 95%; plastics, by 70%; steel, 60%; paper, 40%; and glass, 30%.

BE PART OF THE SOLUTION ~ NOT THE PROBLEM
If you are not recyling, call your sanitation department NOW and get set up on their program. Recycle everything you can. Get your neighbors to join you. You'll be amazed how LITTLE "trash" you will end up having.

REDUCE • REUSE • RECYCLE

Information gathered from National Geographic Magazine, January 2008