In this article we will tell you about E-Waste of Computer components. Here’s the complete discussion:
Computers are indispensable for the present day human life.It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that some of us are really lost without this logically thiking “box”!However, how many of us know or understand that computer components are toxic. They are generally called e-waste and re-cycling or disposing them causes great harm to the workers who handle them. Computer components contain harmful ingredients like lead, cadmium beryllium or flame retardants etc. and needs to be handled with great care and under safe environment.
E-waste is the name given to some electronic and other parts from the computers. When computers become old or obsolete some parts can be salvaged to be re used and some needs to be discarded. The computer is needed to dismantled and parts which can be re used separated from the useless components. E-waste comes from the computer parts which can be dismantled and disposed off as scrap to be reused, recycled, or simply discarded all together. E-waste is divided into two parts, the parts which cannot be recycled like Cathode ray tubes and the parts which can be recycled, repaired and reused. Copper, steel or plastic comes under the recycled part of the e-waste. However, to get the reusable part of e-waste one needs to dismantle the computers entirely. All developed countries have very stringent laws which makes recycling of e-waste very difficult and expensive. They have stringent laws which makes it difficult for the wase operators to salvage computer components which can be re-used. UK, USA and other developed countries have enacted Hazardous Waste Regulations Act which makes it very costly for the waste operators to salvage usable components from old or discarded computers. However, there are no such laws in the developing countries or even if there are laws to protect workers from hazardous electronic toxic materials it is difficult to impose them. Generally discarded or old computers are shipped to developing countries where it is fairly easy to dismantle them and salvage parts which can be recycled and sold in open market.
Old and obsolete computers are shipped to the underdeveloped Asian and African countries where, regardless of exposure to the toxic e-waste, they are dismantled and the parts which can be recycled are separated from the parts which can be discarded and can either be incinerated or used as landfill. The cost of transportation is offset by the good value for recycling products. The trade in e-waste is a very lucrative business. As the amount of e-waste increases the trade in dismantling computer components is becoming more and more attractive to the unscrupulous traders. Many countries like, India, China and African countries have become dumping ground for e-waste. A report from United Nations says that the volume of e-waste produced is reaching a level and in few years the world would produce so much of e-waste that it would be difficult to manage its disposal safely.
E-waste management has now become a global issue and it is time the nations of the world come together to find a solution before the damage to the environment and human beings becomes more severe. Processing techniques can be improved and the workers can be trained to use machinery instead of using their hands, global awareness campaigns can be launched to propagate the toxic nature of the e-waste.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_waste
Reference:
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