1. Electronic Waste:
What Is It?
Where Does It Come From?
Why Is It Dangerous?
…And How Do We Stop It?
A Podcast
By
Elizabeth R. Miller
March 2010

2. Electronic Waste
term used to describe waste materials
generated from electronics such as
phones, printers, televisions and
appliances

3. Why Is It So Dangerous ?
Electronics can contain chemicals
such as lead, mercury, cadmium,
brominated flame retardants and
polyvinyl chloride (PVCs)
These chemicals cause cancer, brain
disease, reproductive problems, and
affect both people and the
environment

4. The Problem Is Growing. Fast.
E-Waste is the largest growing waste source
– growing by over 40 million metric tons a
year
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
estimates only 15-20% of electronics are
recycled – the rest end up in landfills or
incinerators
Recycled products are often shipped to
developing countries such as India, China
and Ghana

5. One Toxic Waste Site:
Guiyu, China

6. Guiyu, China

7. Guiyu, China

8. Guiyu, China

9. What Can You Do?
First, do not throw away your old
electronics!
If they are still working donate them so
they can be reused.
If they are no longer and you want to
recycle them in a responsible way…..

10. Electronics TakeBack Coalition
Visit www.computertakeback.com

11. Electronics TakeBack Coalition
Website allows you to search for
responsible recycler in your area….
….if there aren’t any it provides advice
on how to learn if the manufacturer of
your product offers responsible recycling
programs
If all else fails, there are still other
retailers like Best Buy who may be able
to help

12. What About the Companies
That Make These Products?
Some, like Apple’s TakeBack Program
allow consumers to recycle products,
but there are some restrictions
Dell also will take back their
electronics
www.takebackmytv.com allows you to
learn if your television manufacturer is
acting responsibly (hint: they probably
aren’t)

13. Moving Forward…
Some manufacturers are acting
responsibly, others are not
Who is holding them accountable? Who
should?
Is it simply a matter of better
education?
Should it be mandated by law?

14. Stay Tuned!
What’s the status of state and federal
legislation around e-waste?
Are there other solutions to this
problem?