GLOBAL E-WASTE CRISIS
Threatening Communities Around the Globe
E-Waste is the Fastest Growing Part of the Waste Stream
Just like batteries, electronics seem safe to use, but if we throw them out, they can leak toxic chemicals like lead, mercury and cadmium into our water and air. One computer monitor can contain 4-8 pounds of lead, which if released can hurt an entire community. The problem has reached crisis level because of the sheer volume of electronic waste being created around the world everyday.
- There are 500 million obsolete computers in the U.S. alone.
- 130 million cell phones are disposed of annually.
- 20 - 24 million TV’s and computers are stored annually in homes and offices.
- Only 10% of unwanted and obsolete computers are recycled.
Up to 80% of E-waste from the U.S. is Exported to Impoverished Countries
We all want to recycle responsibly. However, consumers, institutions and businesses who take their e-waste to a recycling center might be surprised to discover that most is being shipped oversees where toxic components are either openly burned, soaked in acid baths and dumped into rivers, or piled into mountains of e-waste for scrap recovery. Impoverished workers, including children, smash leaded glass tubes, breathe lead solder fumes and melt plastics with toxic flame retardants. SVTC has worked with other organizations around the world in researching and exposing the worldwide destinations of our electronic waste.
Citizens at Risk is a 2008 documentary by SVTC and Chintan Environmental Research and Action Group about the hazardous effects of e-waste on the health of the workers and the environments in areas like Delhi, India. View a preview of our the film on Youtube. You can also order the full documentary at our Citizens at Risk DVD order page.
What Can You Do to Fight Against the E-waste Crisis?
The ultimate solution to this e-waste crisis is to design cleaner products that are less toxic, easily recycled and allow for repairs and upgrades. Electronics companies say that customer demand is the single most compelling driver for them to make changes in their products.
Make Socially Responsible Purchases: Use SVTC’s electronics purchasing guide and computer report card to evaluate companies on their recycling policies, manufacturing processes and worker and environmental protections.
Click Here to go to SVTC’s consumer purchasing guide.
Recycle Your Electronics Responsibly: Use SVTC’s consumer guide to recycling to find out how you can properly dispose of your old electronics and support safe local solutions to this growing problem. Click Here to learn about responsible recycling.
Support Laws to Make Companies Responsible for their Toxic Trash: You can support legislation across the country that helps alleviate the burdens of e-waste on communities by requiring electronics manufacturers to pay for and manage electronic recycling programs.
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TAKE ACTION |
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Tell Electronics Companies to Take Back E-waste
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TAKE ACTION |
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Find a Responsbile Recycler Near You!
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