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The Environmental Issues. By Kdub, Kai li, and Nathan. Problems:. ICT products causes environmental problems and concerns Toxic substances such as lead could contaminate water. Technology advances accelerate the elimination of TVs and computers.
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The Environmental Issues By Kdub, Kai li, and Nathan
Problems: • ICT products causes environmental problems and concerns • Toxic substances such as lead could contaminate water. • Technology advances accelerate the elimination of TVs and computers. • Elimination would cause disposal of working (repair) and non-working equipment. • Energy Use • Packaging
Environmental guideline • Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS), restricts certain substances (e.g. Lead,cadmium, mercury) (Pb) <1000 ppm (Cr6+) <1000 ppm (Cd) <100 ppm (PBB) <1000 ppm (Hg) <1000 ppm (PBDE) <1000 ppm
Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE), requires take back and handling of EOL electrical and electronic products • Lead: CRT Monitors, Lead-acid battery • Copper: copper wire, Printed circuit board tracks • Aluminium: nearly all electronic goods use more than a few watts of power (heatsinks) • Iron: Steel chassis, cases & fixings • Silicon: glass, transistors, ICs, Printed circuit boards. • Nickel & cadmium: rechargeable batteries • Lithium: Lithium-ion battery • Zinc: plating for steel parts • Mercury: fluorescent tubes (numerous applications • Sulphur: Lead-acid battery • Carbon: Steel, plastics, resistors. In almost all electronic equipment.
Monitors causes pollution… • Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) • CRT screen contains lead • Lead weighs from four to eight pounds • Newer LCD (Liquid crystal display) screens have less problems but have other concerns (e.g. mercury in bulbs?)
Concerns of recycling • Recycling computers is not free… • $$$ (Cost $10-$20 per unit) • Would people be bothered to do it? • Participation of companies
E.g. Apple Inc. • Apple and the Global Environment • “Four areas of particular attention are product and packaging design, responsible manufacturing, energy efficiency, and recycling.” • Responsible Manufacturing • “Apple helps to safeguard the environment — as well as consumers’ safety — by restricting the use of environmentally harmful compounds in our materials and manufacturing processes. ”