What+is+E-Waste?

toc

= What is //E-Waste//? =

**E-waste, or electronics garbage, is the fastest-growing section of the U.S. trash stream.**

**E-waste is what happens when you (or anyone else on the planet) decides to dispose of an old computer, cell phone, printer, iPod, game console, television, PDA, scanner…**


 * According to the Environmental Protection Agency, in 2007, Americans discarded more than 112,000 computers daily. Even worse, just 18 percent of discarded televisions and computer products were collected for recycling.**


 * There are all kinds of good reasons // not //** **to make yours one of them: **

**Class 308 has taken the initiative to start an E-waste recycling campaign, and kick-start the preservation of our planet, and it's people. Our class will be collecting various forms of E-waste, for example, computers, printers, batteries, mice and keyboards, game systems and games, calculators, phones, and the list goes on. We will make sure that your E-waste will be recycled properly, and any information saved on your old machines will be safe and secure. We hope you will help us help the world.

For more information and answers to any questions related to our project, and your future contact your friends in room 308 **

= Why is E-Waste causing problems? =

** Electronic devices are a complex mixture of several hundred materials. A mobile phone, for example, contains 500 to 1000 components. Many of these contain toxic heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium and beryllium and hazardous chemicals, such as brominated flame retardants. Polluting PVC plastic is also frequently used. **  · ** In landfills, heavy metals have the potential to leach slowly into soil, groundwater or surface water. **  ** · **** When burned, some heavy metals such as mercury may vaporize and escape into the air. ** ** · **** Cadmium and lead may end up in the ash, and ultimately pollute the soil. ** ** · **** Once in the groundwater or air supply, heavy metals and PCB’s released by improperly disposed-of computers linger as cancer causing compounds. **  · **Vast amounts of the e-waste generated in the United States is exported…or “e-dumped” in developing foreign countries such as Ghana or Somalia, creating serious health risks and pollution problems for the residents of those countries.** · **Discarded computer hard drives and devices often contain personal data from previous owners, exposing people to the dangers of Data Fraud and Identity Theft.**



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