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WASTE NOT, WANT NOT! (WN) 2 INSTITUTE Environmental Issues of E-Waste

Learn about the growing problem of electronic waste, the hazards it poses, and the need for proper disposal. This workshop will educate trainers on effective strategies for managing e-waste. Presented by the University of Arkansas and the Center for Mathematics and Science Education.

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WASTE NOT, WANT NOT! (WN) 2 INSTITUTE Environmental Issues of E-Waste

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  1. WASTE NOT, WANT NOT! (WN)2 INSTITUTEEnvironmental Issues of E-Waste Train-the-Trainer Workshop June 14 – 18th, 2004 Center for Mathematics and Science Education University of Arkansas - Fayetteville Presented and Hosted by A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency funded institute sponsored by the University of Arkansas and the Center for Mathematics and Science Education Lynne Hehr Director, Center for Mathematics and Science Education University of Arkansas Stephan Pollard Doctoral Student, Environmental Dynamics Ph.D. Program University of Arkansas

  2. ELECTRONIC WASTE(E-Waste) Problems Overview Presented as part of WASTE NOT, WANT NOT (WN)2: Environmental Issues of Waste Disposal Stephan PollardEnvironmental Dynamics ProgramUniversity of Arkansas June 14, 2004, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas

  3. ELECTRONIC WASTE(E-Waste) Problems Overview Presented as part of WASTE NOT, WANT NOT (WN)2: Environmental Issues of Waste Disposal Stephan PollardEnvironmental Dynamics ProgramUniversity of Arkansas June 14, 2004, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas

  4. ELECTRONIC WASTE – A GROWING PHENOMENON • Over 20,000,000 PCs became obsolete in the US in 1998 • Between 1997 and 2007, nearly 500,000,000 PCs will become obsolete – almost two for every man, woman, and child in the United States. • People and businesses store their TVs, monitors, printers, and other electronic equipment in attics, basements, and warehouses thinking they may still be valuable (Ex. Chicago Public School’s 18,000 pieces of obsolete equipment stored in 600 schools around the city) • By 2005 over 100,000,000 cell phones will be retired annually! • By 2005, 500,000,000 cell phones weighing over 250,000 tons will be stockpiled and awaiting disposal • While end-of-life electronics currently comprise only a small amount (1 to 2 percent) of the municipal waste stream, that percentage is expected to grow dramatically in the next few years. • Electronic products often contain hazardous and toxic materials that pose environmental risks if they are landfilled or incinerated. See http://www.nrc-recycle.org/resources/electronics/managing.htm, INFORM’s ‘Calling All Cell Phones,’ 2003, and http://www.wastenews.com/headlines2.html?id=1086806836

  5. ELECTRONIC WASTE - CONCERNS • the volume of computers and related electronic equipment improperly disposed of in municipal solid waste landfills • the toxicity of both the computer manufacturing process and the computer and CRT itself as a waste product • the shipping of discarded computers to such countries as China, Vietnam, India, and Pakistan where children and adults pick apart the toxic innards

  6. ELECTRONIC versus ELECTRICWhat are we talking about? ELECTRONIC ITEMS Process and display information and possess complex circuitry, circuit boards, or signal processing. Information Products Audio Products Video Products Televisions Projection TV HDTV LCD TV TV/VCR Combinations Videocassette Players VCR Decks Camcorders Laserdiscs Players DVD Players TV/PC Combinations Digital Cameras OTHER Rack Audio Systems Compact Audio Systems Portable CD Players Portable Headset Audio Total CD Players Home Radios Tape Decks Amplifiers Tuners Home Theater in a Box OTHER Cordless/Corded Telephones Wireless Telephones Tel. Answering Machines Fax Machines Personal Word Processors Personal Computers Computer Printers Computer Monitors Modems/Fax Modems Appliances w/Info Displays Pagers Radar Detectors Electronic Games Calculators Digital Thermostats OTHER

  7. ELECTRONIC versus ELECTRICWhat are we talking about? ELECTRIC ITEMS Use electricity to operate but do not display or process information. Mercury Lead Contain Hazardous Waste X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Power tools Blenders, Toasters, Frying Pans Coffee Makers without Timers Irons Curling Irons Major Appliances without Timers Light Bulbs Electric Space Heaters Electric Pianos and Organs Manual Thermostats Electric Toothbrushes Electric Razors Refrigerators and Freezers Central Air Conditioners OTHERS See http://www.nwf.org/mercury/tour.cfm for more mercury containing household items.

  8. SPECIFIC DANGERS of ELECTRONIC WASTE Lead • Toxic to _______________________________________________ nervous & reproductive systems, kidneys, & inhibits mental development of young children & fetuses • Consumer electronics constitute 40% of lead found in landfills • Main concern - _______________________________________ can leach & contaminate drinking water supplies • Main application of lead in computers - • ___________________________ • ____________________________________________ soldering of printed circuit boards glass panels in computer monitors (cathode ray tubes) • Over the past eight years over 315 million computers became obsolete in the USA. • How many pounds of lead do you think this amounts to? ___________________ 1,200,000,000 pounds! See http://www.retrosystems.com/problems.htm and http://www.svtc.org/cleancc/pubs/poisonpc.htm for more detail.

  9. CRT GLASS Contains lead oxide – classed as a hazardous waste under the International Basel Convention. Basel Convention - United Nations treaty banning the export of e-waste to developing countries. Although 41 nations have ratified the convention, the U.S. has not. Therefore, U.S. companies aren't bound by it. Single samples taken by the BAN researchers in the region tested: LEAD - 190 times the World Health Organization's safe level CHROMIUM - 1338 times the level deemed safe in the US TIN - 152 times the US threshold. Cathode ray tubes sit by river edge in Guiyu, China . Photo: By Stefan Irvine Young woman about to break the gun off a cathode ray tube to get the copper wire from the yoke. http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/world/2002/disposable_planet/waste/chinese_workshop/5.stm

  10. CRTs are PARTICULARLY PROBLEMATIC • Lead content may represent as much as 80% of toxic metals in discarded electronics • CRTs represent ~1/3 of electronics tonnage • Computer monitors contain, on average, 2-5 pounds of lead • TV’s, have on average, 4-8 pounds of lead (depending on age and size) • Lead in frit usually tests to be hazardous waste using TCLP procedure • Weak market for glass with high lead content • When landfilled increased concentrations of heavy metals may result – lead in frit readily leaches • When incinerated heavy metals become concentrated in ash limiting disposal and reuse options Source: Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation (MCC), 1996 Electronics Industry Environmental Roadmap, MCC Information Center, Austin, 1996.

  11. SPECIFIC DANGERS of ELECTRONIC WASTE Cadmium • Can cause damage to ________________________________ lungs & kidneys & harm to fragile bones • Main concerns - ____________________________________________ • ____________________________________________ can leach & contaminate food & drinking water supplies can become airborne & absorbed through respiration • Main applications of cadmium in electronic & electrical equipment - • _______________________________________________________ • __________________________ • ___________________ Surface Mount Device (SMD) chip resistors, infrared detectors, semi-conductors, & batteries older types of cathode ray tubes used as plastic stabilizer • Over the past eight years over 315 million computers became obsolete in the USA. • How many pounds of cadmium do you think this amounts to? ________________ 2,000,000 pounds! See http://www.retrosystems.com/problems.htm and http://www.svtc.org/cleancc/pubs/poisonpc.htm for more detail.

  12. SPECIFIC DANGERS of ELECTRONIC WASTE Mercury • Can cause damage to ___________________________________ brain & kidneys & harm the developing fetus • Main concerns - ____________________________________________ can leach & contaminate food & drinking water supplies • Main applications of mercury in electronic & electrical equipment - • _____________________________________________________________ • _______ • ____________ • ____________________________________________________________ thermostats, position sensors, relays, circuit boards, & measuring equipment batteries mobile phones discharge lamps (flourescent lamps & other mercury vapor pressure lamps) • Over the past eight years over 315 million computers became obsolete in the USA. • How many pounds of mercury do you think this amounts to? ______________ 400,000 pounds! See http://www.retrosystems.com/problems.htm and http://www.svtc.org/cleancc/pubs/poisonpc.htm for more detail.

  13. DISCARDED PHONES • By 2005 more than 500,000,000 cell phones weighing over 500,000,000 pounds will be stockpiled in closets and drawers and awaiting disposal • Thus far less than 1 percent of the millions of cell phones retired and discarded each year have been collected. • When burned - pollutes air with dioxins and furans • When landfilled - contaminates ground water CELL PHONES CONTAIN: antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc – persistent, bioaccumulative toxins • Most Toxics are in: • Printed wiring boards • Liquid-crystal displays See http://www.informinc.org/calling_cellphones.php for more detail.

  14. SPECIFIC DANGERS of ELECTRONIC WASTE Hexavalent Chromium (Chromium VI) • Can cause ________________________________________________________ lung cancer, permanent eye damage, & ulcers in the nose and on skin can leach from landfilled incinerator fly ash • Main concerns - __________________________________ • ________________________________ exposure during manufacturing process • Main applications of hexavalent chromium in electronic & electrical equipment - • ___________________________________________ • _________________________________ corrosion protection of untreated and galvanized steel decorative and hardener for steel housing • Over the past eight years over 315 million computers became obsolete in the USA. • How many pounds of chromium do you think this amounts to? ________________ 1,200,000 pounds! See http://www.retrosystems.com/problems.htm and http://www.svtc.org/cleancc/pubs/poisonpc.htm for more detail.

  15. SPECIFIC DANGERS of ELECTRONIC WASTE Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) • Can cause _________________________________________________________ endocrine disruption, reproductive abnormalities, neurological problems, infertility, & death when incinerated fumes are inhaled • Main concerns - ________________________________________ • ___________________________________________________ incineration produces toxic dioxins – carcinogenic! burn barrels/open burning of PVC can produce large amounts of dioxins • Main applications of PVC in electronic & electrical equipment - • ___________________________________________ • _________________________________________________________ cable & wiring cover (for its fire retardant properties) older computer housings (newer computers are made with ABS plastic) • The largest volume of plastics used in electronics manufacturing was PVC (at 26%). • How many pounds of PVC are there in the 1,000,000,000 pounds of plastic scrap produced yearly by the electronics industry? __________________ 260,000,000 pounds! See http://www.retrosystems.com/problems.htm and http://www.svtc.org/cleancc/pubs/poisonpc.htm for more detail.

  16. SPECIFIC DANGERS of ELECTRONIC WASTE Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs) – Four types: PDBEs, PBB, TBBPA, HBCD • May cause __________________________________________________________ nuero-developmental deficits, intellectual impairment, shortened lactation • Main concerns - ____________________________________________________ • _____________________________________________________ • ____________________________________________________ dust containing toxic flame-retardants generated from usage of electronic and electrical equipment and the recycling and disposal of the waste is spread into the air burning or heating of some brominated flame-retardants produces toxic dioxins & furans US women have the highest breast milk concentrations of PDBE • Main applications of brominated flame retardants in electronic & electrical equipment • ______________________________________________ • ______________________________________________ printed circuit boards, connectors, plastic covers, & cables plastic covers of TV sets & in domestic kitchen appliances • Over the past eight years over 315 million computers became obsolete in the USA. • Concerning the monitors how many pounds of brominated flame-retardants do you think this amounts to? __________________ 350,000,000 pounds! What about the CPUs & wiring boards? See http://www.retrosystems.com/problems.htm, http://www.svtc.org/hu_health/edcs/bfrs/pbdes/BFRPres2_files/frame.htm, http://www.computertakeback.com/the_problem/bfr.cfm for more detail.

  17. What’s your Personal Computer made of? 14% Aluminum 1% Nickel 2% Zinc 6% Lead 25% Silica 23% Plastic 1% Tin 25% Iron 7% Copper <1% Chromium, Cadmium, Arsenic, Mercury, Gold, Titanium, Silver, Manganese, Antimony, and Platinum Source: California’s Electronic Hazardous Waste Regulations, presented by Karl Palmer at the UC Irving: Industrial Ecology Symposium: Seminar on Electronic Design, Manufacturing, and the Environment, April 4, 2003.

  18. WIRE and CIRCUIT BOARD BURNING EXTRACTING SOLDER, STEEL, & COPPER • Produces dioxins & furans from combustion of • Polyvinyl Chloride • Brominated Flame-Retardants India Vietnam China

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