Paul Paul...
What types of hazardous materials are in electronics?
* Approximately 5-7 pounds of lead are in each monitor (the radiation
shield in the Cathode Ray Tube).
* Electronics have replaced batteries as the largest single source of
heavy metals in the municipal waste stream.
* Consumer electronics contribute 40% of the lead found in landfills.
* Computers, cell phones, and TV screens contain lead, brominated flame
retardants and other toxics, but are frequently disposed of in solid waste
landfills.
* Other toxics of concern in electronics include: mercury, cadmium,
hexavalent chromium.
* Unsafe levels of brominated flame retardants have been found in blood
tests of workers dismantling electronics.
For more info on what's in em and how and where to dispose of them properly
visit.
http://www.epa.gov/region09/waste/solid/electronics.html
As for batteries, do like I do. Save them in an old coffee can and take them
to the hazardous waste facility. If your community doesn't provide this
service lobby for it, and in the meantime, check with your local Radio
Shack. Here in Canada they collect and safely dispose of dead batteries.
The same goes for LBC waste: oil, antifreeze, dead batteries etc. .... all
contain stuff better recycled, reused or safely disposed of. I don't know
about you, but I have friends who live downstream, drink the river water,
whose kids play in the alley, and whose pets roam and drink from puddles.
I do make the effort to properly dispose of hazardous products. Fortunately
I live in a city that operates two eco stations, a "blue Box" program for
recylclibles, and a mega composter for bio waste. (Grass clippings, kitchen
waste etc.) The infrastructure is there and most people do their part and
use it.
Cheers
Don
> From: owner-triumphs@autox.team.net (Triumphs@Autox.team.net daily digest)
> Reply-To: owner-triumphs-digest@autox.team.net
> Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 06:31:04 -0700
> To: triumphs-digest@autox.team.net
> Subject: Triumphs@Autox.team.net daily digest V1 #1429
>
> Date: Tue, 21 Jan 2003 07:32:49 -0500
> From: "ptegler@cablespeed" <ptegler@cablespeed.com>
> Subject: Re: Re:Home for old computer parts? ???????
>
> ?????? What? Where did you ever hear that
> 'puters are any more toxic than anything else electronic!
> What did you do with your last TV!!? yes... maybe the
> phosphorous in the CRT or the heat shield conductive
> paste under that power transistor but what in a computer
> is any worse than the 'sealed' (yeaha right) alkaline
> batteries you chucked in the trash last time they died.
> Even the plastic cases are already made out of recycled plastics
> thus containing less of the nasty chemicals than original.
>
> ...donning flame suit...
>
> Paul Tegler
/// triumphs@autox.team.net mailing list
/// or try http://www.team.net/cgi-bin/majorcool
/// Archives at http://www.team.net/archive
|