Mike
I must admit that this kind of "report" is typical ecopolitical scare
tactics. Like nuke power stations, there is an element of truth in their
tactics, exaggerated beyond reasonable proportion. I agree there is a
problem, but it is not one that is difficult to resolve. I would like to
know where there are cadmium and mercury in a PC or a TV, for example.
As for electronic trash, the PC is not the worst offender (it might be
the bulkiest, but 90% of its bulk is fresh air). Low cost domestic
electronics (things like alarm clocks and calculators, usually
commercial gifts) typically has a user life of a year. Mobile telephones
are being replaced every 18 months. Not to mention musical greetings
cards with a life of one day.
As far as PCs and monitors are concerned, if the working parts are
removed from the casing and the latter separated into iron and plastic
for recycling, you have already won 75% of the battle. The CR tube
envelopes are recyclable. The solder is easily recovered. A la rigueur,
the rest of the metals can be, although this might be less economical.
The rest can be chopped and burnt, to provide fuel for electricity
generation (did you know that Switzerland has an electricity generation
capacity of 227 MW from burning waste?). This does require a
sophisticated high-temperature incinerator with scrubbers and
precipitators.
Yes, I agree that we have a long way to go, but using popular media to
spread scare tactics is counter-productive, IMHO.
Brian
Mike Buetow wrote:
>
> This from the San Jose Mercury News today.
>
> U.S. lags in recycling computer junk
> ? Finding a final resting place for a PC often
> carries a price
>
> BY PAUL ROGERS
> Mercury News
>
>
> America is awash in a growing tidal wave of
> aging, unwanted computers -- each full of lead
> and other toxics -- yet U.S. high-tech
> companies lag behind their counterparts in
> Japan and Europe in recycling efforts,
> according to a new report scheduled for
> release today. Japanese companies such as
> Canon, Sony, Fujitsu and Toshiba scored the
> highest environmental grades in the report,
> which was compiled by the Computer Take Back
> Coalition, a consortium of 14 environmental
> organizations ranging from the Silicon Valley
> Toxics Coalition to the Sierra Club.
>
>
> Among American-based companies, IBM,
> Hewlett-Packard and Apple were the only U.S.
> companies to finish in the top 10. Other
> companies such as Dell, Micron Technology,
> Gateway, Lexmark and Acer were labeled
> ``laggards.''
>
>
> Computer companies were ranked by their
> willingness to recycle old machines from the
> public, their use of hazardous materials in
> building computers, their reporting of
> recycling and toxics data, and worker exposure
> to toxics.
>
>
> ``The genius of the high-tech revolution has
> been the ability to build newer and faster and
> cheaper computers every 18 months,'' said Ted
> Smith, executive director of the Silicon
> Valley Toxics Coalition, based in San Jose.
>
>
> ``That has been the watchword for 20 years.
> But it also means that piles of obsolete
> computers are building up in everybody's
> basements, garages and attics.''
>
>
> The complete results are set to be released at
> a news conferences in San Jose, Boston,
> Seattle, Austin, Los Angeles and other
> prominent high-tech cities.
>
>
> Garbage problem
>
> Computer junk, or ``e-waste'' as it is known
> in the industry, is fast becoming one of the
> nation's most serious garbage problems.
>
>
> It can cost $15 a machine to properly dispose
> of a computer and monitor -- costs often borne
> by hapless city governments stuck with old
> 286s and other worthless cyber-antiques in
> their landfills and on household drop-off
> days.
>
>
> And the amount of computer junk is
> skyrocketing. Americans now purchase more
> computers every year than TV sets. And few
> people know what to do with their old
> machines.
>
>
> In 1999, 24 million computers in the United
> States became obsolete, according to the
> National Safety Council. Of those, only 14
> percent were recycled or donated to charity.
> Nearly all the rest were dumped in landfills
> or left in storage.
>
>
> That's a problem because the average PC is
> full of hazardous materials. While in use,
> they pose little to no risk. But when machines
> are dumped or burned, they become a toxic
> dilemma.
>
>
> The glass in computer monitors contains
> roughly four pounds of lead each. The lead is
> used to shield users from X-rays emitted from
> cathode ray tubes. Even though lead has been
> banned in gasoline and paint for a generation,
> city landfills continue piling it up from
> computer monitors and old TV screens. Newer
> flat panel monitors can be made without lead.
>
>
> Circuit boards and PCs also contain mercury,
> cadmium and other toxic metals.
>
>
> Industry representatives acknowledge the
> problem but say they can't be forced to
> shoulder all the disposal costs -- which could
> run into the billions.
>
>
> ``It is we in the public who buy all this,''
> said Margaret Bruce, environmental programs
> director with the Silicon Valley Manufacturing
> Group, based in San Jose.
>
>
> ``Ultimately it will be all of our
> responsibility to deal with it.''
>
>
> Charging
>
> Among U.S. companies, IBM and Hewlett-Packard
> now take back unwanted computer junk by mail,
> but they charge on average about $30 a
> machine.
>
>
> Today's report notes that both Europe and
> Japan have passed laws in the past year
> requiring all computer makers to take back old
> machines for free. No such laws exist in the
> United States.
>
>
> ``There are a lot of Silicon Valley companies
> who are watching to see how it works in Europe
> and Japan,'' said Bruce. ``They want to do
> these programs too. But we are in a recession.
> They have to pay their employees. I haven't
> heard from anyone that it is a bad idea.
> There's an awful lot of head scratching on
> `how do we make this work?' ''
>
>
> Bruce noted that some computers are so old
> their makers are no longer in business. She
> suggested that the ultimate solution will
> probably be some kind of government-industry
> partnership, similar to what is done with
> tires and car batteries, in which a cost of
> perhaps $10 would be added to the price of a
> new computer and the money would fund city
> take-back programs.
>
>
> Some efforts are beginning at the state level.
> This year, 33 states debated computer trash
> laws in their legislatures. Only three passed,
> and they were minor measures, said Jerry
> Powell, editor of E-Scrap News, a newsletter
> based in Portland, Ore.
>
>
> Colorado formed a committee to study the
> problem. Arkansas and Florida began state
> programs to help cities pay for computer
> disposal.
>
>
> ``There's been a lot of discussion, but not
> much action,'' Powell said. ``Congress sees
> this as a state issue. And most of the giant
> warhorse environmental groups are not taking
> this issue on yet.''
>
>
> Hazardous, illegal
>
> In March, California's Department of Toxic
> Substances Control announced that cathode-ray
> tubes are considered hazardous and illegal to
> dump in municipal landfills. In essence,
> cities are now stuck with them when the public
> tries to throw them away.
>
>
> ``Local governments are being hit hard by
> this.'' said Smith. ``They don't have the
> funds to deal with it, and they are making the
> strongest case for the state to do something
> about it.''
>
>
> To see the report go to the Silicon Valley
> Toxic Coalition's Web site at www.svtc.org.
> For list of Bay Area computer recyclers:
> www.svtc.org/cleancc/recycle/recycletable.html
>
>
>
> __________________________________________________________________________________________
>
> Any views or opinions are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
> represent those of CMP Media.
>
> The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which
> it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. If you
> are not the intended recipient of this message please do not read, copy, use or
> disclose this communication and notify the sender immediately. It should be
> noted that any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking
> action or reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the
> intended recipient is prohibited.
> __________________________________________________________________________________________
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Leadfee Mail List provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8d
> To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in
> the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Leadfree
> To temporarily stop delivery of Leadree for vacation breaks send: SET Leadfree NOMAIL
> Search previous postings at: www.ipc.org > On-Line Resources & Databases > E-mail Archives
> Please visit IPC web site (http://www.ipc.org/html/forum.htm) for additional
> information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.5315
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leadfee Mail List provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8d
To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in
the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Leadfree
To temporarily stop delivery of Leadree for vacation breaks send: SET Leadfree NOMAIL
Search previous postings at: www.ipc.org > On-Line Resources & Databases > E-mail Archives
Please visit IPC web site (http://www.ipc.org/html/forum.htm) for additional
information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.5315
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
