E Waste Management

In the article, “From Gadget to Garbage: Tackling The Problem of Discarded Technology” from the Orange County Register, the NewsELA staff states, “No one is sure how much e-waste ends up being exported from the U.S., the EPA says, but “the United States government is concerned that these exports are being mismanaged abroad, causing serious public health and environmental hazards.” The quote explains that by exporting e-waste incorrectly, public health and the environment are being put at risk. The quoted statement implies that e-waste shouldn’t be exported and should stay in it’s country, for public health and environmental safety. When the author uses the word, “mismanaged” it means the incorrect handling of things, which in the article the

This paper will discuss what e-waste is, what is happening to the e-waste and why it is a problem. The paper will then discuss what can be done to improve the situation.

As used electronics is becoming a waster hazard worldwide local governments such as where I live include programs at local waste stations purely for electronics. This encourages local residents to freely drop off their electronic waste, like TV’s and computers and mobile phones to these locations where the waste is sorted and than shipped to facilities that can process this waste appropriately which also includes recycling as much material as possible. This has a

If you where to ask a small child in Nigeria—"what do you do everyday?" They will most likely answer, "burning e-waste and selling the minerals inside in in." Not an answer you would receive from an American children living in the Untied States. Slowly this kids are being sicken by all the dangerous substances that e-waste contains. Soon this will lead for their bodies to stop growing properly. They will eventually die. Old electronics should not be thrown away, instead recycled. Because it is not healthy for the people in the countries that try to take out the material inside of the e-waste. And because we need tougher laws. Also because you can recycle.

While being too focused on new, bright and shiny technological innovations, a lot of people don’t think about where their old obsolete technology goes or how it affects the environment. Electronic waste (E-waste) “...comprises electrical appliances such as fridges, air conditioners, washing machines, microwave ovens, and fluorescent light bulbs; and electronic products such as computers and accessories, mobile phones, television sets and stereo equipment” (Lundgren). Recycling electronic waste is expensive, so many developing countries receive E-waste from other countries (often times illegally) to extract valuable materials from the electronics to be used for the country’s benefit. Although the country recycling this waste benefits from an economical standpoint, the environmental and health standpoint isn’t so lucky. “...rudimentary recycling techniques coupled with the amounts of e-waste processed have already resulted in adverse environmental and human health impacts, including contaminated soil and surface water” (Lundgren). With an extreme lack in any sort of safety regulations, poor workers are taken advantage of and suffer the most because “...workers and communities are exposed to many highly toxic chemicals" (Marko) and it’s all because Americans don’t want to spend the money or take the time to properly recycle these products. The

Ace Scavenger Service began its journey as a small, family owned trash hauling business in 1894. The family business was passed to Dean Buntrock in 1956. Buntrock had the foresight to begin consolidating small trash companies into one large company. He started with the merger of his firm with two other smaller firms in 1968 and created Waste Management, Inc. In 1971, Waste Management, Inc. had its initial public offering and used those proceeds, and some questionable business practices, to take over their competitors. It was a great time to be in the garbage business as throwaway items and containers began to become more and more common and the trash business was also

Eilperin describes the electronic waste, or e-waste as she dubs it, with aplomb. She especially pays attention to how the exportation of electronic waste from the United States to Asian countries affects their communities and environment. In my estimation, like many of the other articles she aims to educate and warn her audience of the danger looming on the horizon if society does not take action. Her audience should come from the article with an idea of how their habits with electronics can damage others half a world away and pose a threat to their environment here at home. This source was found through a search for electronic waste, global and asia on National Newspaper Core.

Recycling of electronic goods has grown swiftly over the past decades. Government support on recycling is creating more opportunities to the industry. The National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme has resulted in 44730.5 tonnes of e-waste being recycled between 2014 and 2015 (Department of Environment and Energy, 2016). As goods importers and manufacturers are demanded to fund and engage in this eco-friendly project, public confidence will increase and so do their participation. This helps to establish a healthy recycling market in the long run.

Have you ever thought, “What do I do with my old iPad that is not working anymore?” We all love playing with the latest electronic gadget, device or computer, but what do you do with the old versions? Most likely you throw them away without even thinking twice about what happens to it. These items are called electronic waste, or e-waste and are causing a lot of problems not just here in the United States but around the world! How do we fix this problem of growing e-waste. Well, thats easy! Recycle them! Recycling Electronics is a big part of this world and trying to save it. The only way to really save the world from this e-waste is to recycle it, and stop putting it in landfills or getting rid of it in some other unhealthy or unsafe way.

The article “Our E-Waste Problem is Ridiculous, and Gadget Makers Aren’t Helping” by Christina Bonnington clarifies the damaging effect of dumping electronic fragments into landfills and how recycling is healthier besides the diverse types of companies that are eco-friendly. When customers change to a new phone or get an upgrade 70-80 percent of the ancient phones ends up in landfills. Throughout the years technology has gotten better it has become firmer to disassemble. Next Bonnington Shares the recycling process, and how certain companies determines if it’s worth reselling, if the electronic is not worth reselling it’s shredded so the materials inside can be recycled such as steel, copper, etc. It also can be tough to get this material out

To improve the efficiency of waste management, data analysis is used. R tool is used in identifying the efficiency of waste. The critical phase of solid waste management program is the collection of solid waste. Inefficiencies in waste collection are identified. Using the data set, the efficiency in waste collection is known. It also identifies what waste comes from where and how it is collected. The waste is also classified based on the type of waste. This classification of waste helps in knowing the recyclable waste. Finally, it evaluates the success of solid waste collection programs with data analysis. Thus evaluation of solid waste helps in making smarter decisions.

Waste Management, Inc., incorporated in 1968, had become a leader in the industry of waste management services ranging from industrial operations to curbside collection. This company had become synonymous with many different kinds of disposal services that allowed for the company to grow and grow with a solid base over the course of twenty-eight years. Finally in 1996, the company reported total assets of almost $20 billion with net income close to $200 million. However, even with this growth and solid base, the company was feeling competitive pressures and net income was on the decline.

Unfortunately, the EPA estimates that only 10 percent of e-waste is recycled annually. Even more upsetting, though, are the conditions in which some of these materials are recycled. While some firms operate under strict environmental regulations with adequate protocols to protect workers' health, many do not.

The first primary cause of the E-waste is the accelerated development of science and technology. “Acceleration can be measured in the returns of the technology such as speed, efficiency, price-performance, and overall power-which improve exponentially too” (“Technology”). The last 20 years have notably changed in many aspects because of the technological innovation, and modern society is filled with various electronic products such as computers, televisions, cell

In our current society there’s a lot of talk about waste management. Buzzwords like “sustainability,” “eco-friendly,” and “biodegradable” find their way into our lives. Into our homes. But is it just aimed at the individual, or does it go beyond the doors of our homes? We all know that industry is everywhere. It in some way encompasses every aspect of our daily routine. From the packaging your toothpaste comes in, to the parts that make up the vehicle you drive, it all originated at a commercial or industrial facility. The UXL Encyclopedia of Water Science states “Commercial operations are those that provide a service or sell a product.” (Hoyle, 419) What we may not realize is just how much waste these multi-faceted