Close to 100 Million cellular phones are replaced each year. I upgrade my phone at least every 2 years. What are you doing with your old cell phone when you upgrade? Some cell phones (by some I mean millions) end up in the landfills because some people still aren't aware that electronics contain metals and other materials that can be hazardous to the environment if not disposed of properly.
Cell phone circuitry and displays can contain toxic compounds like arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, copper, and lead. The plastic shells of the cell phones have also been treated with brominated flame retardants. In addition to the toxic compounds, there are also nontoxic materials contained in electronics. These include valuable resources such as precious metals, engineered plastics, glass, and other materials -- all of which require energy to manufacture. The energy required to produce these materials from scratch generate additional pollution, when existing materials end up in a landfill.
Because manufacturers use many different types of plastic in electronic equipment, it is the most challenging to recycle. These plastics often include contaminants such as metal screws and inserts, coatings and paints, foams, and labels. Currently, plastics from electronic equipment are both difficult and costly to sort. Also, plastics can be treated with brominated flame retardants, making them harder to recycle and possibly dangerous to those exposed to them. One thing many very intelligent people in the United States still have not learned yet is that just because you throw it in the trash doesn't mean it goes away.
Here are some of the environmental impacts:
Cadmium is persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic. It is found in chip resistors, infrared detectors, and semiconductors.
Lead can accumulate in the environment and have a detrimental effect on plants, animals, and humans. In humans, it causes damage to the central and peripheral nervous systems, blood systems, and kidneys. Lead is contained in glass panels in computer monitors and in lead soldering of printed circuit boards. Consumer electronics may be responsible for 40% of this metal found in landfills.
Mercury is found on printed circuit boards), discharge lamps, and batteries. It is also used in data transmission equipment, telecommunications, and mobile phones. When mercury make sits way into waterways, it is transformed into methylated mercury in the sediments and eventually ends up in food where it can cause brain damage.
Brominated Flame Retardants are used on printed circuit boards, components such as plastic covers and cables. Flame retardant Polybrominated Biphenyls may increase cancer risk to the of the digestive and lymph systems. Once released into the environment through landfill leachate and incineration, they are concentrated in the food chain. (http://www.wirefly.org/why-recycle/environment.php )
■It is unlawful in some states to not recycle your cellular phones and cell phone accessories. There is a growing movement to protect the environment and law makers all over the world are taking note. If your state is not one of these, may I suggest you get involved and figure out how to make this an important issue? I don't know about you but I don't want any more pollutants in my water and the earth my food is grown in.
Cell phone circuitry and displays can contain toxic compounds like arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, copper, and lead. The plastic shells of the cell phones have also been treated with brominated flame retardants. In addition to the toxic compounds, there are also nontoxic materials contained in electronics. These include valuable resources such as precious metals, engineered plastics, glass, and other materials -- all of which require energy to manufacture. The energy required to produce these materials from scratch generate additional pollution, when existing materials end up in a landfill.
Because manufacturers use many different types of plastic in electronic equipment, it is the most challenging to recycle. These plastics often include contaminants such as metal screws and inserts, coatings and paints, foams, and labels. Currently, plastics from electronic equipment are both difficult and costly to sort. Also, plastics can be treated with brominated flame retardants, making them harder to recycle and possibly dangerous to those exposed to them. One thing many very intelligent people in the United States still have not learned yet is that just because you throw it in the trash doesn't mean it goes away.
Here are some of the environmental impacts:
Cadmium is persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic. It is found in chip resistors, infrared detectors, and semiconductors.
Lead can accumulate in the environment and have a detrimental effect on plants, animals, and humans. In humans, it causes damage to the central and peripheral nervous systems, blood systems, and kidneys. Lead is contained in glass panels in computer monitors and in lead soldering of printed circuit boards. Consumer electronics may be responsible for 40% of this metal found in landfills.
Mercury is found on printed circuit boards), discharge lamps, and batteries. It is also used in data transmission equipment, telecommunications, and mobile phones. When mercury make sits way into waterways, it is transformed into methylated mercury in the sediments and eventually ends up in food where it can cause brain damage.
Brominated Flame Retardants are used on printed circuit boards, components such as plastic covers and cables. Flame retardant Polybrominated Biphenyls may increase cancer risk to the of the digestive and lymph systems. Once released into the environment through landfill leachate and incineration, they are concentrated in the food chain. (http://www.wirefly.org/why-recycle/environment.php )
■It is unlawful in some states to not recycle your cellular phones and cell phone accessories. There is a growing movement to protect the environment and law makers all over the world are taking note. If your state is not one of these, may I suggest you get involved and figure out how to make this an important issue? I don't know about you but I don't want any more pollutants in my water and the earth my food is grown in.
http://www.eoearth.org/article/Cell_phone_recycling
2 comments:
That is really interesting. Wish I could upgrade and then dispose of my cell properly. I used my upgrade to get Brandon and cool, new phone since his was older than mine.
You really should be a teacher! You have such a way of putting things! I can read stuff, I just can't ever spit it back out...You on the other hand, are great at it!
Funny I read this today, I'm looking to upgrade my phone, I just talked to a rep an hour ago. I had no idea throwing a phone away could be so bad. I'll ask about the recycling thing! Thanks for the info!
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