Electronic waste is a growing problem as new electronics are constantly being released and older versions become obsolete. This excess waste ends up in landfills and recycling centers, or is even shipped overseas where it is broken down under dangerous conditions. The document proposes several ways to limit electronic waste, such as reusing and donating old devices, companies offering recycling incentives, informing the public about local recycling options, and making devices easier to repair by replacing individual parts. Overall, increasing awareness of electronic waste issues and providing more sustainable recycling programs could help address this significant environmental challenge.

1. How to Limit Electronic Waste
Nicholas Marrazzo
INTG 285 E59
Professor Hartwell, Bornak, and McCann
5/8/16

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Every year more and more products are being released that are making older
versions of electronics unwanted and obsolete. These obsolete products now become
electronic waste that is becoming an increasing problem to the environment. The
electronic waste consists of computers, laptops, cell phones, handheld devices,
microwaves, TV’s and copiers. These are just a few machines that would be considered
electronic waste and with so many new models and designs coming out each year more
and more are becoming outdated. The creation of new and improved models are
creating the buildup of electronic waste and not many people know what to do with their
old devices. The new advancements are creating a problem of people putting their old
models into the garbage which is leading to more pollution. The question is what to do
with these old devices and how can we limit electronic waste in an electronic booming
market.
When I was growing up I never really thought about what happened to the old
devices in my house. One method that would help cut down the electronic waste
problem that is building in this country is reusing. When I was younger my house had a
desktop computer in the early 2000’s and when it became outdated we ended up giving
it to my grandparents. Instead of sending it to the landfill or recycling center we gave it
to someone who would use it and kept it from wasting away. Many people would be
better off donating or giving away their old devices than just putting them in the trash.
There are many electronic companies that now offer money to those who want to
recycle their devices. One example is Verizon, they offer someone who is upgrading

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their phone the option to turn in the device for gift cards or a discount. This gives the
customer the incentive to turn in the phone so it gets reused or properly handled.
According to Verizon’s website someone turning in their old phone can get up to 300
dollars for it depending on the model. This is would give someone the incentive to
donate instead of holding onto it until they throw it in the trash. More electronic
companies should impose a program like this where they take back the older devices
and then reuse or scrap them from there and properly handle the device.
Electronic waste is increasing with all of the different computers the upgrade in
the processor or other small upgrades. These small upgrades make the computers
faster while the ones that they own seem sluggish and they buy a brand new computer.
If they would look into upgrades in their computer like a new motherboard or the new
memory board can prolong the life of a computer. Not only would the new pieces allow
the computer to run better but it would prevent another device being wasted. If more
people knew about computer upgrades they could keep their computer for longer.
Computers created today are harder and harder to replace the pieces and
everything is built to make you replace the whole computer. Desktops are easier to
replace parts but like my laptop there is no way to open it and replace parts to prolong
it. I think more people should rally around the idea to allow laptops to be easier to
replace part and it will make the major companies change. These changes help reduce
the pollution that is caused by the electronic waste.
Some of the effects that are caused by the mishandling of electronic waste is
more relevant in third world countries where the old devices are sent. In places like
China and India thousands of tons of electronic waste are sent each year.

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(GreenPeace). In these countries they salvage the different parts of the devices in very
dangerous working conditions. “These practices can expose workers to high levels of
contaminants such as lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic, which can lead to
irreversible health effects, including cancers, miscarriages, neurological damage and
diminished IQs.” (EPA). The effects of these working conditions with little to no
protection lead to many illnesses and cause premature deaths. The different chemicals
that are contained in the devices can leak into the environment and can cause these
effects to locals and children. Electronic waste in the United States does not only harm
US citizens but can cause problems around the world.
The damage that electronic waste creates does not get much attention in the
news. I think that the information of the effects of the waste needs to get more spotlight
for a big change by the public. From my survey that I did in my classes I found that most
of the students did not know where they could recycle electronics and if they did they
would be motivated to recycle. Informing the public of the damage it can cause would
help people in the fight against electronic waste. If people were more informed of where
they can recycle they would recycle their old devices. People can look to the EPA for
where they can recycle like at some popular companies like Staples, Best Buy, and Dell
(EPA). These companies are some of many outlets that recycle electronics and the
better informed the public is the more likely they are to recycle.
The public needs to be better informed on the dangers of electronic waste and
what they can do to stop the pollution. Anything that they can do to help cut down on the
pollution in the United States would also help the prevention of pollution in the third
world countries. I feel like more research should be done on the recycling of the old

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devices besides shipping them to China and India. In these countries many children are
used in the salvaging process and they are exposed to the dangerous chemicals
without protection. They use the children to get the smaller parts used in the computers
and printing devices.(GreenPeace).
There are multiple ways for the public to get more involved in the prevention of
electronic waste. If more people were informed of the effects and what they cause to
locals around the world more people would jump in the fight. The effects of the
electronic waste are not published by the major news outlets and this places the cause
of electronic waste to not be noticed. The fight against electronic waste is getting harder
each year with the creation of new devices every month or so.
The major companies like Apple and Samsung are creating new devices faster
than people can take. An iPhone becomes useless to the public once they release an
iPhone S months after a new phone. Along with new TV’s being created that are
creating more and more people throwing out their old ones for one that is similar but
curved. I believe that the electronic device companies like Samsung, Apple, Dell, HP
should be limited to how many devices they can release each year. The unending
barrage of new devices is creating electronic waste at a rate we cannot handle. The
shipping to other countries is happening because of the large increase of new devices.
The public should get behind the idea of limiting the amount of new products released
each year or quarter because of the damage it is being caused by the new devices.
After doing research and a survey of classmates and coworkers I feel that the
public needs to be better informed on the effects of electronic waste domestically and
internationally. Another way to fight electronic waste is to have major distribution

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companies cut down the amount of electronic devices produced each year. Another fact
that I found to be helpful in the stopping of electronic waste was to inform the public of
their local recycling plants. If someone does not know where to take the old devices
then they won’t recycle. From my survey I found that an overwhelming number of
people did not know where to take their old devices, but would if they knew where to
take them.
Trying to stop electronic waste entirely is not realistic but getting information to
the public and news channels is a way to fight it. One of the more effective and realistic
ways to cut down on electronic waste is to have the new electronic devices released be
compatible to changing of motherboards and hard drives. This would prolong the life of
devices and allow for people to recycle old parts. Another realistic way to cut down
electronic waste is to better inform the public on the recycling process and like recycling
paper or plastic they should have different bins to recycle different pieces of devices.
The process where this is done is the most effective method but very tedious. They
separate different motherboards and hard drives from circuit and the devices. It is the
most effective and if these steps are followed they would have a large effect on
electronic waste.

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Sources: Cal Recycle. “Electronic Waste Management.” California Dept. of Resources
Recycling and Recovery. N.p., 1 Jan. 2016. Web. 8 May 16AD.
EPA. “Electronic Donation and Recycling.” United States Environmental Protection
Agency. N.p., 1 2016. Web. 8 May 16AD.
"Where Does E-waste End Up?" Greenpeace International. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 May
2016.
"Cleaning Up Electronic Waste (E-Waste)." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d.
Web. 08 May 2016.