E-Waste (Electronic Waste) Electronic waste, or E-waste, is the fastest growing waste stream. Each year, both consumers and businesses discard tens of millions of televisions, computers and other electronic products.
The Problem: Recent studies show that the component materials of electronic items pose dangers to human health and the environment. Cathode ray tubes (CRTs), the glass picture tubes found in television and computer monitors, contain five to eight pounds of lead. Computers contain heavy metals such as lead, chromium, nickel and zinc. Plastics used in casings are often difficult to sort and recycle, and can pose a health and safety risk to workers. Landfills are starting to refuse to accept electronic products or charge a hefty disposal fee. Local and state governments are imposing strict guidelines on proper disposal. E-waste and Nonprofits: Non-profits receive millions of pounds of electronics through their donation stream. Ten to thirty percent of electronic donations are e-waste, and safely disposing of these products directly impacts job-training and career services in many communities. National "Take Back" programs developed by many computer manufacturers were either discontinued or never launched.
Future Legislation 7Kcomputers Inc. supports safeguards for environmentally sound disposal practices, and believes legislation on e-waste disposal should find a balance between manufacturer and consumer responsibility. This could include a buyer fee for every purchase to cover the anticipated cost of disposing of the product at the end of its life cycle. The manufacturer and the buyer would then share this cost. It is critical for legislation to recognize that organizations collecting these goods, including nonprofit organizations, are essentially acting as agents of the county or state for the benefit of the community, and should not bear the financial burden of proper e-waste disposal. New government grants could support recycling efforts by nonprofit companies.
