2011
E-WASTE
Sterling Lutes
MVCTC
4/5/2011
E-Waste
E-Waste
E-waste is the name commonly referred to when talking about old electronics being
thrown out. Some examples of E-waste are any electronics and usually older electronics like
TVs, computers, handheld items (phone, game boy, PDA) are examples of E-waste. All of these
electronics can be repaired, refurbished, donated anything but thrown away.
Biological Hazards
A lot of the chemicals used in electronics will get into water ways. They will contaminate
those waterways and spread to others. Scientist predict that in the future it will be hard to find
clean water for drinking and cleaning.
Cadmium a substance in batteries can be inhaled and absorbed into your kidney. High
levels of this can cause MFF (Metal Fume Fever) or even death.
Environmental Hazards
Some old TVs and computer screens have five or more pounds of a poisonous metal
called lead. In previous generations many health issues have been caused by lead, such as the
ancient Romans, who used lead lined pipes for their aqua-ducts and long term affect killed
many of them. Lead can get into water ways and make its way into other streams, rivers, lakes,
and oceans. It is not good for animals, plants or humans.
Mercury is a dangerous metal ( the only liquid metal known of) used in some display
screens, is found to be a neurotoxin. A neurotoxin is a toxin that affects specifically nerve cells.
This metal can be absorbed into us by contaminated water. Large quantities of this substance
can cause damage to your nerves. Once mercury is released it is hard to get rid of it. You are
recommended to call a specialist to clean up the neurotoxin.
Other Hazards
The plastic used on old monitors and other devices take an extremely long time to break
down and even when they breakdown they still are not completely safe. Animals may try to eat
the plastic and it will stay in them.
Americium is found in smoke alarms and is a radioactive source. It is very small traces of
radioactive material but can still affect the environment that little bit.
Recycling
We need to explore our options and one of them is recycling. We should try to get E-
waste known about first of all. Next research all harm that can be done and how long it will take
this harm to happen. After the research we need to inform people of the effects in the long run.
Then we need to take action by getting E-waste Recycling trucks. Not everywhere just where
their is the most E-waste being created, like big cities. The trucks would then take it a center
where they would save all the good parts and dispose properly of the bad. Like separating
plastic, glass, different types of metals. They could reuse Mercury and lead in other new
devises, and melt down and make new devises with the glass, plastic and metal. We would
need to do this all the way to have an impact no halfway job. We would have to execute this
plan in a timely fashion in order for it to help. This would create jobs for people and stop others
from risking health to mine lead and other substances.
Donation/Repair
The technology may be obsolete here, but in third world countries and families with lower
income we could donate the old technology. If you think about it their are tons of people that
would want old computers and cell phones and other electronics you just have ti think
creativity. This would resolve other issues as well like poor families would need a computer to
get jobs (Almost all job applications are filled out online now days) maybe go to online school.
If we choose to repair the computers we could maybe even make a few bucks selling them if
they were up and running correctly. We would have to use tax’s to pay for a lot of this. This is
why we need to propose this to the public and let them know we can make back some of the
money and make new jobs for people.
Re-utilization
We could try to utilize certain devices that are not that old. For example people will buy a new
cell phone every year or two some people will buy multiple a year a lot of their old cell phones
still work fine and are attainable to just about anyone. We could just sell them at a reduced
price and label them as used.
We could also refurbish the old parts and sell them at a lower price a little bit and label as
refurbished. Other technology that people would reuse are printers, TVs, some of the not so old
computers, just about a little of everything.
Grid/Parallel Computing
Another solution would be Grid Computing or Parallel Computing. Grid Computing would be a
more reachable goal compared to Parallel computing. Parallel computing would require full
machines with all components grid just requires the resources not full working computers.
Adding all these components together would enable us to make a computer from these old parts
that could in theory be faster then a brand new computer if we use enough resources from the
old computers.
Work Cited
"Grid Computing." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 05 Apr. 2011.
.
"Electronic Waste Recycling 101: Hidden Hazards of E-waste Threaten Human Health and
Environment." Suite101.com: Online Magazine and Writers' Network. Web. 05 Apr. 2011.
.
"E-waste Becoming a Health Hazard." PhysOrg.com - Science News, Technology, Physics,
Nanotechnology, Space Science, Earth Science, Medicine. Web. 05 Apr. 2011.
.