Journal-News.com

Don't Throw Away Your Television

Our growing dependence on electronics products both at home and in the workplace has given rise to a new environmental challenge: electronic waste. A recent study by the U.S. EPA shows that electronics already make up approximately 1 percent on the municipal solid waste stream. Research indicates that electronic waste is growing at three times the rate of other municipal waste.

According to the U.S. EPA, over 20 million personal computers became obsolete in 1998 and only 13% were reused or recycled.

Electronic circuit boards, batteries, and color cathode ray tubes (CRTs) can contain hazardous materials such as lead, mercury and hexavalent chromium. If improperly handled or disposed, these toxins can be released into the environment through landfill leachate or incinerator ash.

In just one year, over 112 million pounds of valuable materials were recovered from disposed electronics for recycling and reuse. Materials includes steel, glass, plastic and precious metals