27 replies to this topic

[techni68]

220 million tons of old computers and other technological hardware are trashed in the United States each year.

Only 11% of PCs are recycled; the percentage for televisions and mainframes recycled is lower.

The United States generates more e-waste than any other nation .

An estimated 50-80% of e-waste collected in the United States for recycling is exported to areas such as China, India or Pakistan. Unusable equipment is also being donated or sold to developing nations as a way to avoid recycling costs.


Sources: United Nations Development Programme Arah Human Development Report 2003 (New York: Oxford University Press, 2003), United Nations Development Programme Human Development Report 2005 (New York: Oxford University Press, 2005), United Nations Development Programme Human Development Report 2001 (New York: Oxford University Press, 2001), International Telecommunications Union World Telecommunication Development Report 2003, G8 DOT Force Report, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Ministry of Communications, Computer Industry Almanac, Egypt National Telecommunication Regulatory Agency, Global Reach Internet Statistics, International Telecommunication Union Key Global Telecom Indicators, International Telecommunication Union Mobile Overtakes FixedInternet World Stats, Nicaragua Telecommunication Regulator, NUA Internet Surveys, New Partnership for Africa's Development, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Sultanate of Oman Telecommunications Regulatory Authority,United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Wired

[xtraze]

And I have read in a magazine that Sri lanka is being filled with E-waste and going to be a big problem. Have no idea.

[xtraze]

I don't think it will be possible or at least easy to re-cycle E-waste as these are very much different than other waste Items. And mostly not environment friendly and harmful for humans. As in circuit chips and everything there are a lot of things which are not good.

[John]

I have all my old computers sitting on a shelf in my basement, I just cant accept that although I spent $2000 on them they are now worth $2

[TcM]

Well you could just sell them in spare parts, at least sell their fans :)

[AfTriX]

You can think of dumping the things (E-Waste) here in my country (Sri Lanka). Because the people in our country always go for low budget things. Since they are in low economic condition. lol

[AfTriX]

Is anybody there who deals with huge amount of E-Waste trying to dump somewhere? They can start a business sending them to Sri Lanka. If you need a dealer then you can contact either AfTriX or XTRaze.

[DevilsCharm]

I thought that they could reuse the silicon in computer chips? I was watching something on the Discovery channel last year about new-age garbage dumps, and it said that they were focusing on metals, but then they realized computer chips were also valuable for recycling. Or maybe I'm remembering wrong.