Managing Electronic Waste with a Little R, R, & R: Reducing, Reusing and Recycling By Dr. Jannie Carter, Extension Assistant Director

E-Waste is defined as discarded, broken, or surplus electronic products that no longer function or have approached the end of their usefulness. The average life for electronic gadgets is rapidly decreasing as technology continues to advance and new products are introduced. Consumers purchase electronics such as cell phones, computers, DVD players, televisions, and other devices regularly to keep up with the latest trends and to stay connected with computer-based services. The result of this behavior is a massive stockpile of equipment that's left for disposal. Broad estimates by researchers predict that by 2010 there will be more than 700 million new computers in use, tripling estimates from five years ago. Globally, millions of tons of old and obsolete electronics are discarded annually and the United States is one of the largest producers of e-waste.

So what's a consumer to do to help manage this growing waste issue? Organizations that promote electronic product management are encouraging us to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Reducing waste starts with making good initial purchases. Consumers can help tremendously to minimize or reduce waste by seeking out responsible manufacturers that produce high quality, low maintenance electronic products that are environmentally friendly. Items that are no longer useful for an intended purchase, but are still in good condition can often be refurbished for other uses and donated. And for those items that are no longer useful, there are organizations within Alabama, the Southern region, and across the nation, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and E-Cycling Central that can assist with recycling or discarding procedures.

Disposing of electronic devices is not as simple as one might think since disposal and recycling laws continue to evolve. Some electronic components contain harmful chemicals that if improperly disposed of can create serious health hazards. Mercury, lead, cadmium, brominated-flame retardants, and hexavalent chromium are among the toxins commonly found in e-waste. Breathing or coming in physical contact with these chemical elements that may be exposed at unsafe levels through spillage or broken electronic devices, can cause adverse health effects. Moreover, there is the risk of soil and water contamination from improper disposal in waste processing facilities and landfills.

Learning about these hazardous substances and how they contaminate our environment and our food and water supplies will help prepare us to recycle and properly dispose of these products. For more information on e-waste and what we can do as responsible consumers, review the references cited below.

Colenso, M. (n.d.) How do e-waste recycling laws work? How Stuff Works. Retrieved October 5, 2009.

Electronic waste. (2009, October 4). In Wikipedia: The free encyclopedia. Retrieved October 5, 2009.

Greenpeace. (n.d.). What is e-waste? Retrieved October 5, 2009.

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