The electronics industry changes so rapidly that new technology inevitably becomes dated or obsolete soon after release. The latest smart phones soon take their place in attic storage along side boxy personal computers, old high-end CD players and tiny flip-phones. On average, consumers generate nearly twenty pounds of electronic garbage each year, and Dallas e-waste processing can help them recycle it responsibly.
It is no secret that many electronic components include toxins. Prior to flat screen displays, bulky cathode ray tubes needed barium, a toxic metallic element also necessary for some automobile parts and lighting elements. Circuit boards often contain cadmium, harmful to kidneys and bones. Lead, chromium, and mercury are also common in used electronics, usually surrounded by structural plastic that neither burns nor decomposes.
Even though most buyers are aware of the critical need for recycling, the accumulating mountain of electronic by-products shows no sign of diminishing world-wide. Many countries have no official disposal policy, and even the environmentally progressive European Union accounts for only one-quarter of its own total. In the United States, figures are lower, and in some cases waste is profitably exported to Asian or African countries 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.
In an effort to increase transparency and public trust, some disposal firms are seeking certification through independent agencies. Although some states currently fine companies for infractions, no uniform national laws governing e-waste processes currently exist on a national scale. While the proliferation of pickup and removal programs is helpful for consumers, few controls govern the final destination.
People residing in Austin increasingly choose a recycling company that is willing to openly explain how the disposal process works, and whether the material is being internationally transported. Some firms have adopted tracking systems that follow individual shipments closely, including the final destination. This not only helps control environmental pollution, but also offers better protections for workers involved in the recycling effort.
It is no secret that many electronic components include toxins. Prior to flat screen displays, bulky cathode ray tubes needed barium, a toxic metallic element also necessary for some automobile parts and lighting elements. Circuit boards often contain cadmium, harmful to kidneys and bones. Lead, chromium, and mercury are also common in used electronics, usually surrounded by structural plastic that neither burns nor decomposes.
Even though most buyers are aware of the critical need for recycling, the accumulating mountain of electronic by-products shows no sign of diminishing world-wide. Many countries have no official disposal policy, and even the environmentally progressive European Union accounts for only one-quarter of its own total. In the United States, figures are lower, and in some cases waste is profitably exported to Asian or African countries 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.
In an effort to increase transparency and public trust, some disposal firms are seeking certification through independent agencies. Although some states currently fine companies for infractions, no uniform national laws governing e-waste processes currently exist on a national scale. While the proliferation of pickup and removal programs is helpful for consumers, few controls govern the final destination.
People residing in Austin increasingly choose a recycling company that is willing to openly explain how the disposal process works, and whether the material is being internationally transported. Some firms have adopted tracking systems that follow individual shipments closely, including the final destination. This not only helps control environmental pollution, but also offers better protections for workers involved in the recycling effort.
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