In case you were unaware, "e-waste comprises discarded electronic appliances, of which computers and mobile telephones are disproportionately abundant because of their short lifespan." Cellphones contain small lithium batteries that contain heavy metals that, if leached into landfills, can be detrimental to the environment and human health. This blurb from the scientific journal, (above) Science, discusses a study completed that analyzed 16 batteries from old cellphones sent to recycling. They contained several metals including lead and cobalt that can leach out in landfill conditions, polluting water and soil. Instead of letting the electronics reach the landfill, methods of safe recycling have been implemented, specifically in the United States.
Studies, such as the one above, show the need for reliable e-waste management systems. Even 8 years ago, in 2005, there was over 1 million metric tons of electronic waste generated in the United States alone and was projected to increase, which it did. In 2011, the United States generated 3.41 million tons of e-waste. These facilities are going to need to be competitive in the market, closely regulated, and, most importantly, responsibly and environmentally handle of all the e-waste.
E-Waste Around the World
To gain a better understanding of the different options that are/can be available in the United States, e-waste management systems in the European Union, Japan, and South Korea are explored.
European Union
There are 25 member states of the European Union, all dedicated to preserving the environment by properly managing e-waste. The regulations that have been put in place by the EU are unique in that they focus on the construction of the product, not just the "end-of-life" aspect. The regulation aims to raise awareness of end-of-life factors during product design to prevent excessive electronics needing to be disposed of. The group also focuses on hazardous materials, such as lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), being used in the electronics at the point of conception.
Japan
Japan's e-waste laws require manufacturers and importers to take back end-of-life electronics for recycling and waste management and are meant to ensure separation of e-waste from the municipal solid waste stream.
South Korea
Under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Law, which came into effect in 2003, local manufacturers, distributors and importers of consumer goods such as air conditioners, TVs and PCs are required to achieve official recycling targets or face financial consequences. In that same year, 70% of e-waste was collected by producers.
The United States has the potential to replicate these influential and successful programs. The need to is ever increasing as the trend of purchasing and disposing of e-waste continues to increase. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), between 2003 and 2005, about 80–85% of the e-waste ready for end-of-life management ended up in U.S. landfills. The amount of contaminants that were leached into the landfills are surely hazardous to humans and the environment. These toxic chemicals can end up poisoning groundwater and soil. There are many programs being enacted at these state level. For example, the State of California has passed a law charging consumer fees, called advanced recycling fees (ARFs), at the time products are purchased. The system covers monitors, TVs and laptops, and the ARF is between US$ 6 and US$ 10. Vermont is one of 15 states that has introduced a producer responsibility bill. The status of the bills is constantly changing.
The United States currently has no Federal mandate to recycle e-waste. Because the United States has so much influence in the global market, a federal regulation would help to cover the states that currently have no e-waste system in place as well as make the overall system more fluid. An e-Market for Returned Deposit system will be the mechanism for residential customers to dispose of their devices in a way that motivates collection, recycle and reuse of e-waste. This program would affect the life-cycle of the product even at the beginning, by encouraging more appropriate use of resources.
Citation:
- I.C. Nnorom , O. Osibanjo. Overview of electronic waste (e-waste) management practices and legislations, and their poor applications in the developing countries.
- Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Volume 52, Issue 6, April 2008, Pages 843–858
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