Why Recycling Matters?
Over the years, computers have widely enhanced different walks of human life
. However, with the rapid and dramatic changes in life, mismanagement of electronic waste has created several devastating issues. Almost all computer equipments are made of a variety of hazardous matters and chemicals. For example, a monitor contains up to 8 kg lead and cathode ray tubes are made of barium and lead oxide; motherboard kits are made up of toxic metals, biologically active materials, plastic additives, poly vinyl chloride and chlorinated substances; heavy metals such as lead & cadmium are used in circuit boards; mercury in plane screens, and copper cables.
According to a research conducted by Basel Action Network, about 500 million computers across the world contain 716.7 million kgs of lead, 2.87 billion kgs of plastics, and 286,700 kgs of mercury. The agency reports that less than 15 percent of these computer elements will be recycled and reused and rest of them will be thrown as landfills and burnt in the open. A large number of environmentalists have warned people against possible consequences and appealed people to take electronic waste seriously. The ERP has blamed governing bodies for not doing enough and regarded the situation to be slipping out of our hand.
There are several health issues associated with computer equipments:
Monitor, for example, contains gasket and glass panel that can cause harm to kidneys, peripheral nervous systems, blood systems and delay the brain's development in infants.
Chip resistors and semiconductors are made up of cadmium which, if thrown in open, can enter our body through food and water and may cause neural damages.
Beryllium is a dangerous substance which is carcinogenic and is used in all motherboards. Direct exposure to it may result into chronic beryllium disease and other skin diseases.
Cathode Ray Tubes contain barium which is dangerous to heart, liver. In some people, it may cause muscle and bone weaknesses.
A majority of printed circuit boards and switches contain Mercury that can damage our brain, skin and create several respiratory disorders.
Steel plates contain Hexavalent chromium that can cause Asthmatic bronchitis and damage DNA.
Recycling is the only Solution
Dealing with electronic waste is certainly a now-or-never situation and cooperation is expected from manufactures as well as users. According to ERP, up to 70 percent of recycling substances are directly used in manufacturing. Rest of 30 percent can be converted into various household items. People are expected to call on a reputed recycler and should not throw computers and other electronic gazettes thoughtlessly. If their system is in working condition, they can even think of donating them to various chartable organizations or NGOs who distribute computers among poor people.
Manufacturers, on the other hand, can use renewable, less hazardous materials such as bio-plastic and bio-based glue inks and toners. It should be their responsibility to educate people about the perils of electronic wastes.
For more information one can call
Asset-Recovery Services for business technology and computer equipment recycling needs.
Why Recycling Matters?
By: Moli Sk
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