The Growing Problem Of E-Waste

To the Editor:

The American people throw out countless amounts of outdated electronic devices. Fifty million computers and monitors and 130 million cell phones make their way into our landfills each year. Twenty-five million tons of e-waste are generated annually! E-Waste represents two percent of America’s trash in landfills, but it equals 70 percent of overall toxic waste!

Companies make their electronics in a way that they won’t last very long. They are constantly making new models, that appeal to us. After a mere year or two of use, we throw out our electronics for new ones. Fraser-Woods School’s 8th year leadership class is currently examining the “designed for the dump” mentality and exploring ways to recycle electronics safely.

According to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), Americans own approximately 24 electronic products per household. A majority of these items find their way into landfills or are illegally shipped overseas to developing nations such as China, India, Ghana, and Nigeria.

Companies exploit underpaid, and often underage, workers to take valuable materials from the waste, paying them as little as $3 a day. Unfortunately for the workers, some of whom are children, when the gold and copper, which are mixed with other heavy metals, like lead, mercury and cadmium, are burned, a blend of toxins are released into the environment. E-waste also contaminates our air, water, and soil. Not only are the people handling the electronics at risk, but everyone around them as well. When not properly disposed of, the electronics leaks dangerous chemicals that affect any living thing nearby. Without laws to enforce the proper disposal of electronics in the United States, Asia and Africa, electronic waste is a danger to everyone involved.

We have to encourage the government to have harsh laws about shipping e-waste to China and other developing nations. Congress is currently working on a bill which would make it illegal to export toxic e-waste to developing countries. The Responsible Electronic Recycling Act (HR 6252) was introduced this past fall by Representatives Gene Green and Mike Thompson. Currently consumers are not confident that their local recycler is actually recycling their old products or simply dumping them illegally overseas. The bill addresses the horrific dumping and primitive recycling operations which have the subject of recent media exposés, and a scathing report by the US Governmental Accountability Office (GAO). The passage of HR 6252 will assure that e-waste is disposed of safely and legally.

We also must make companies responsible for their own e-waste. It would be cheaper for companies to make electronics less toxic, longer lasting and more recyclable. To this end, Greenpeace created its guide to Greener Electronics which ranks the 18 top manufacturers of personal computers, mobile phones, TVs and games consoles according to their polices on toxic chemicals, recycling and climate change. Think green before making your next purchase and review the guide, which you can find at http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/toxics/electronics.

Join us in the campaign to stop the global dumping of e-waste. Help save our Earth and make a difference! Donate your e-waste today!

Patrice Gans

For 8th Year Frazier Woods class

173 South Main Street, Newtown                                April 24, 2001