1. Methods of Safe and Clean Electronic Waste Disposal Presented by: Daniel Werntz

2. Background Information Electronic waste in one of the fastest growing streams of waste in the world Computers account for 50 million tons of waste annually Current Disposal Methods Incineration Acid Baths Landfills

3. The state of things Electronics contain over 1000 different materials, many of them toxic In the US, end of life electronics end up in landfills or are exported to developing countries Developing countries are the worlds dumping grounds for electronic waste

4. Why is this a problem? Landfill disposal allows heavy metals to leach into ground water Incineration makes hazardous material airborne Acid baths are dangerous and cause water and soil contamination Exported materials are handled improperly Most e-waste goes to China, India, and Africa Workers are untrained and uneducated in safe handling of electronic waste No environmental protection laws

5. Environmental Impacts Studies conducted in China discovered heavy contamination in e-waste recycling regions Soil, air, water, and sediments all contained high levels of contamination Trace metals (Lead, Zinc, Nickel, Copper, Mercury, and Cadmium) Polychlorinated Biphenyls Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Dioxins

6. Methods Redesign of computer components Simplification of the deconstruction process Consumer Education Easy to access information about where to dispose of unwanted electronics Updated Sorting Methods Automated sorting processes

7. Methods Samples taken of soil, air, and water in areas surrounding disposal sites Taken before the test is begun and once a week every week after the start This will be considered a success if contamination levels are the same or lower than the initial samples

8. Desired Results The purposed methods aim to: Reduce export of e-waste to developing countries Reduce the release of hazardous materials during recycling and disposal