E-waste is a major environmental problem - tons of resources, along with hazardous metals, are sent to landfill every year. Here are nine reasons why eWaste recycling matters:
- Each year 750,000 computers are sold in Victoria (3 million Australia-wide).
- 560,000 computers in Victoria are redundant each year. Three out of four used computers in Australia are dumped in landfill or stockpiled.
- 182,875 are dumped in landfill each year in Victoria (731,500 in Australia).
- In 10 years 1.77 million computers will be redundant each year.
- The ACT is the only place that bans computer waste to landfill.
- In five years, 30 countries will have take-back laws for electronics (Australia has no law).
- Making one desktop computer and monitor uses the same amount of chemicals (22kg), water (1500kg) and fossil fuels (240kg) as a mid-size car.
- The biggest computer users are small and medium businesses (28%); followed by large corporates (23%); government (18%); households (17%) and education (14%).
- In just over a decade, the number of personal computers worldwide increased fivefold—from 105 million in 1988 to more than half a billion in 2002.
What to do with your used computer? Computers contain a variety of toxic materials that make disposal hazardous to the environment. Until manufacturers take financial and logistical responsibility for the end-of-life of their products, consumers should be aware of current disposal options.
A typical computer monitor contains lead, barium and hexavalent chromium. Other toxic ingredients include cadmium in chip resistors and semiconductors, beryllium on motherboards and connectors, and brominated flame retardants in plastic casings. 70% of lead, cadmium and mercury in landfill comes from electronic waste.
RECYCLE OR REFURBISH IT!
- Support Byteback: the first computer take back service of its kind in Australia. Byteback is a free service for residents and small business owners in Victoria who want to dispose of their old computers in an environmentally responsible way. The centre is located in the City of Boroondara.
- Make use of purchasing power. Buy or lease a new computer only if needed and choose the most environmentally sound option - for example, look for labels indicating the machine is energy efficient.
- Don’t throw away old electronics. Contact manufacturers that take back old computers – such as Dell – Ring them for a quote on pick up. Urge manufacturers to dispose products responsibly.
- Ultimately you can make a difference by writing to your Federal or State Environment Minister or local member urging them to take action to bring Australia into line with the new international standard of producer responsibility.
For more ideas and further information visit Environment Victoria at http://www.envict.org.au/index.php