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Sunday, October 12, 2014

How Dallas E-Waste Processing Centers Are Combating A Growing Problem

By Jocelyn Davidson


The ongoing evolution of personal electronic devices guarantees obsolescence. Even the most hyped new products routinely up in the attic with the old flip phones, portable CD players and boxy personal computers from the past, creating a significant disposal problem. Dallas e-waste processing helps consumers responsibly recycle the average twenty pounds of electronic garbage that each person generates yearly.

Most computer-based electronics contain toxic materials. Before flat-screens became standard, cathode ray tubes required barium, a poisonous metallic element also used in car parts and lighting. Cadmium is present in circuit boards, and exposure can harm bones and kidneys. Chromium, lead, and mercury are also found in many old parts, often framed by plastics that do not burn or decompose.

Most consumers are aware of the need to recycle, but that knowledge has made little progress in reducing the growing mountain of used and toxic electronic detritus. Many nations have no official environmental policy regarding this issue, and even progressive Europe can account for only one-quarter of its own total. In the United States, the figures are alarmingly low, with an emphasis on exporting that waste for profitable metal extraction.

In an ideal world, electronics makers would take full responsibility for recycling their own products, and that is becoming a reality in some cases. In Texas, computer and TV makers are now required by law to offer free recycling services for consumers, and must publicize those opportunities. While many major corporations willingly choose to participate, others say recycling is the responsibility of buyers, not makers.

Even the most environmentally concerned consumers rarely know the exact destination of their discarded units. Collection events are popular, an increasing number of services offer free pickup, and charitable programs designed to re-purpose old devices are common. Countries that are known destinations for reprocessing often battle a growing domestic e-waste problem of their own, and typically exercise few controls worker exposure to toxins.

After the old electronics are gone, there is little real assurance that they will not become a part of a foreign landfill. Some of the destination countries willingly trade environmental issues for hard currency and the chance to escape poverty. Those generating the most electronic detritus often choose solutions that are profitable in the short term, but may cause more serious issues for future generations.

Some electronics makers are seeking meaningful certification by local, independent environmental agencies. In many states there are already substantial fines for flaunting regulations, but no national laws uniformly regulate electronic waste processing. It has become extremely easy for people to have their old electronics taken away, but very hard to determine their final destination.

People living in Austin and other Texas municipalities increasingly turn to recycling companies who are willingly transparent regarding their own processes. Some companies have begun maintaining detailed tracking systems that follow materials from beginning to end, including the destination country. This not only helps control pollution, but also reduces health hazards for the people dependent on that work for survival.




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