Hazardous Waste

      The dumping of electronic waste has become a huge problem for the United States. Because technology changes so quickly, old cell phones, televisions and computers are disposed of in huge numbers. While the price of some of the components within these electronics make them desirable on the recycling market, most are not. Recently, two inspectors in California were doing a routine check on some warehouse paperwork. What they discovered was shocking. They found a football sized room filled with tens of thousands of old computer monitors and televisions piled up in rows that were 9 feet high and 14 feet deep. Glass and dust covered the floor presenting a toxic situation. The owner of the recycling company disappeared leaving this hazardous situation for the warehouse owner to remove. What was once a profitable recycling business is now worthless waste. In 2004, recyclers were being paid $200 a ton for the glass that they found in computer monitors and internal tubes. Now, the same companies have to pay $200 a ton in order to have the glass hauled away. It is estimated that the amount of electronic waste in the US has doubled in the last 5 years. 10 years ago there were 12 plants in the US that took old TVs and computer monitors. Now there are only 2 plants in India who want these products. Sadly, thousands of pounds of old electronics fill landfill sites across the country. Some of the components contain highly toxic mercury. 660 million pounds of glass are being stored in warehouses across the country costing between $85 and $360 million dollars to responsibly recycle these materials.
       I found it so surprising that this kind of electronic waste has not been dealt with more efficiently. How is there no sensible solution to this growing problem? Should electronics be designed with a longer lifespan in mind? Can there be a creative way to reuse old computers and TVs? Our generation is going to have to deal with this growing problem unless something is done soon.