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Electronic Waste Disposal at the University of California, Irvine

Electronic Waste Disposal at the University of California, Irvine. Victoria Liu May 31, 2008. School campuses and technology. There are over 2,400 four-year colleges and university campuses in the U.S. UCI : 25,000 students enrolled over 16,000 faculty and staff employed

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Electronic Waste Disposal at the University of California, Irvine

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  1. Electronic Waste Disposalatthe University of California, Irvine Victoria Liu May 31, 2008

  2. School campuses and technology • There are over 2,400 four-year colleges and university campuses in the U.S. • UCI: 25,000 students enrolled over 16,000 faculty and staff employed • Popular technology • Computers & laptops • Cell phones • MP3 players

  3. EPA Key Findings from 2005 • Americans own nearly 3 billion electronic products • Estimated 130,000 computers discarded per DAY • Around 304 million electronics abandoned in 2005 • 2/3 of those electronics were still operable according to the Consumer Electronics Association

  4. Epa key findings from 2005 • Used/unwanted electronics: 1.9 – 2.2 million tons • Landfills: 1.5 – 1.9 million tons discarded to landfills • Recycled: 345,000 – 379,000 tons recycled

  5. Basel Convention and e-waste export • The Basel Convention: the international treaty that regulates disposal and export of e-waste E-WASTE DEVELOPING DEVELOPED COUNTRY COUNTRY • U.S. is the only developed country that has not ratified the Basel Convention and • Of the e-waste exported, 90% goes to China. • Workers in foreign countries dismantle waste without protective clothing and employing practices hazardous to their health.

  6. Adverse effects from e-waste disposal CHEMICAL TOXINS • Americans have been shown to have the highest levels of these compounds in their blood of any people yet tested. • Emitted in air and groundwater • Embedded in tissue • Leached into food products throughout U.S.

  7. Adverse effects from e-waste disposal • LEAD • MERCURY • CADMIUM • PVC • HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM • Nervous and reproductive systems • Kidneys, thyroid, bones • Mental development of children and fetuses • Neurodevelopmental problems

  8. research • Current research addresses large-scale directives in different countries: • European Union’s Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive (WEEE) • Japan’s Designated Household Appliance Recycling Law (DHARL) • Current practices on university campuses • UC Berkeley: • GreenCitizen: drop-off locations, community programs, marketing incentives • UC Irvine: • Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S): drop-off bins, online pick-up, e-waste collection events and specified dates

  9. Key Questions: • How are UCI students currently disposing of their unwanted electronics (namely computers/laptops, cell phones, MP3 players)? • Why have they chosen that method of disposal? • What alternative forms of disposal do students know about? • What adverse effects of electronic waste do students know about? • What incentives would encourage students to recycle their electronic waste?

  10. Research Design • Sample: • Survey taken to classes and the ARC • 164 subjects studying different majors: • Public Planning & Design • Criminology, Law & Society • Economics • History • Biology • Engineering

  11. Research Design • Sample questions: 1) How do you usually dispose of your old computers/laptops? [Check all that apply] • Keep, reuse parts • Donate • Trash • Recycling centers • Other:___________________ • Why? [Check all that apply] • Convenience • Common practice • Good for the environment • Maximize use of product • Don’t know • Other: ______________________ • What are some alternative forms of disposal you know about? [Check all that apply] • Electronics stores • Recycling centers • Donation • Other: ______________________ 4) What adverse effects of improper electronic waste disposal do you know about? [Free response]

  12. Results • METHODS OF DISPOSAL • Results very similar across the board * 8 – 15% Trashed * Many have not had to dispose of MP3 players yet

  13. Results Students Who Keep/Donate Recycle vs. Students Who Throw in Trash 18.8% 0% 16% 25% 12.5% 30.8%

  14. Results • WHY • For computers/laptops, cell phones, and MP3 players students chose their method of disposal for reasons of CONVENIENCE • Also a popular consideration: MAXIMAL USE OF PRODUCT Keep Donate Reuse Convenient Maximal Use

  15. Results • In general, students know about RECYCLING CENTERS and DONATION as alternative forms of e-waste disposal • They also know that e-waste • contains DANGEROUS CHEMICALS • causes ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE • BUT only in the most general sense or not at all • Demographics: • Public Health and Social Ecology Majors had the best ratios of students who knew about the adverse effects of electronic waste

  16. “Increase in landfills; mercury and lead in electronics; potential urban runoff.” • “Very little. I just know it shouldn’t be thrown in regular garbage.” “We ship it off to developing countries to be disassembled dangerously…hurting their population and environment.” • “Batteries are bad for the earth?” • “Toxins but don’t know exactly what.”

  17. Results

  18. Results • In conclusion: Not much trash Students know about alternatives Most students know about adverse effects • Students know what they should be doing but not enough about how or why • Donations and storage have their own share of problems • CAPITALIZE ON CONVENIENCE • Further education and publicity about adverse effects + bad practices • MP3 players will be growing problem – should be addressed and planned for

  19. Further Research • Professor Ogunseitan • Researching how to eliminate the toxins used in cell phone parts and replace with non-toxic and reusable components • Extend to computers and MP3 players • Expansion through UC System • 2007: UC system adopted “Policy on Sustainable Practices” • Energy • Global Warming • Waste • Eco-friendly purchasing http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/article/17146

  20. Acknowledgements • Professor Valerie Jenness • Professor Joseph DiMento • Professor OladeleOgunseitan • Professor Stanley Grant • Professor Lisa Grant • Professor Eli Simon • Professor Stephen Barker • Professor Scott Samuelsen • Students of UCI • Students of Social Ecology Honors Program Contact: vliu1@uci.edu

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