The winter holidays are over, and brittle Christmas trees and empty champagne bottles aren’t alone in many consumers’ trash heaps. There are also used computers, televisions, cell phones and other gizmos that have been replaced with fancier models. Those piles may be somewhat larger than in recent years, thanks to the imminent U.S. government-mandated changeover from analog to digital television broadcasting. The switch, which is slated for February, has prompted many consumers to flock to retailers for new sets.
Yes, lead, mercury and other toxins are components in electronics products. And yes, EPA says that electronics products are the largest source of lead in a landfill (which is the equivalent of EPA saying that newspapers are the largest source of groundwood in a landfill). EPA also notes that the lead does NOT leach out of the electronics products because landfills are pH neutral (about 6.8). Yes we should recycle electronics products - but let's do it for the right reason.
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Responsible E-Disposal: Attacking the E-Waste Blight
Posted by: Jim Offner January 13, 2009 04:00 AMThe winter holidays are over, and brittle Christmas trees and empty champagne bottles aren’t alone in many consumers’ trash heaps. There are also used computers, televisions, cell phones and other gizmos that have been replaced with fancier models. Those piles may be somewhat larger than in recent years, thanks to the imminent U.S. government-mandated changeover from analog to digital television broadcasting. The switch, which is slated for February, has prompted many consumers to flock to retailers for new sets.