E-Waste Solutions
Disposal of computers, printers, scanners and other telecommunications equipment - called "e- waste" - has emerged as a major environmental issue. During the 1990s only about 10 percent of this equipment was recycled or refurbished for reuse in Canada.
E-waste contains toxic materials that can be hazardous if not managed properly. In particular, the lead oxide used in the cathode ray tubes (CRTs) of computer monitors is a concern because it is in a soluble form.
Proper recycling of the hazardous materials from computers is an important health and safety concern. However, computer waste also contains valuable parts and precious metals, such as gold and copper, which offer potential business opportunities.
The Information Technology Association of Canada represents the computing and telecommunications industry. It has proposed a national action plan that gives municipalities and consumers the responsibility to collect the equipment. Industry would cover transportation costs and processing. A proposed front-end fee on IT equipment would finance the program.
In February 2001, Alberta launched the first provincial initiative to recycle obsolete computers, and a commercial e-waste recycling facility opened in Rimbey, Alberta in September 2002. When fully operational, the facility will process over two million kilograms of e-waste annually.
Manitoba prefers a return-to-retailer model for electronics waste, and in British Columbia there have been requests that the provincial government develop an e-waste program that is financed and managed by industry. Ontario established a new waste diversion organization in June 2002. Waste Diversion Ontario is based on the premise that industries will pay half of the cost of handling their materials in municipal recycling programs.
The European Union is taking strict measures requiring the industry to collect and recycle obsolete computers. In the U.S., individual states have recognized the problem. Some may start to require take-back of used equipment and fees to recycle CRTs.
Manufacturers are trying to remove hazardous substances such as lead and mercury from computers. For example, the lead in solder will likely be phased out over the next five years. However, there are major challenges. Lead-free solders tend to be more brittle than the current lead-based solders used to glue components to motherboards. In addition, changing the solder requires the cooperation of all component manufacturers. Everything works together. If even one of the hundreds of components on a motherboard is dislodged, functioning of the computer is compromised.
References:
Solid Waste & Recycling, October/November 2002.
ZDNet News, September 12, 2002.
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