Computers and the EnvironmentE-waste in the US

E-waste, what is it?

Source: Environmental Protection Agency, “Electronics Waste Management in the United States Through 2009”

Computers and the Environment

•Problematic aspects of the production and disposal of computing electronics

•How corporations and consumers are making better choices to stem the problem

•Problems with the current solution

Two-sided problem: Production

Differences between computer industry and others

Required materials Disposal

Rapid obsolescence Disposal of materials from the manufacturing

process Need for recycling

Production

What Makes the Computer Industry Special

Higher grade chemicals 99.995-99.9999% purity Other industries: 90-99%

Chemicals used: Benzene Xylene Methyl Cloroform Tetrachloroethane Ethylene glycol Methyl Collosolve

Typical Resources Needed for Computer Production

Disposal

Rapid Obsolescence

Computers: Average life-span of 3 years Too small second-hand market Out of sight, out of mind Older materials found to be unsafe: BFR plastics Need for recycling

Management of E-waste: Environmental Protection Agency

• Increases e-waste awareness•Facilitates source reduction or waste prevention,

including reuse of products. • Increases availability of recycling resources

Source: Environmental Protection Agency, “Electronics Waste Management in the United States Through 2009”

Government Solutions

Source: Environmental Protection Agency, “Laws on disposal and recycling of electronics”

Source: Environmental Protection Agency, “Electronics Waste Management in the United States Through 2009”

Problems with the solution

• Internal structure of the PC is complex, making recycling difficult

•Much of the products are exported abroad instead of recycled

China

India

Kenya

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400

2010 E-waste generation in China, India, and Kenya

ComputersTelevisionsRefridgerator

Thousands of Tons

3 million tons.

Predictions for 2020Type of e-waste China India South Africa

Old computers 2 – 4 times 5 times 2 – 4 times

Mobile phones 7 times 18 times -

Televisions 1.5 – 2 times 1.5 – 2 times -

Refrigerators 2 – 3 times 2 – 3 times -

*In comparison with amounts in 2007

2007

2010

3+ generations

2+ versions

Problems with E-waste in China

• Imported from other countries, a dumping ground• Illegal and improper recycling methods

Conclusions