E-scrap

E-scrap is a unique problem for the environment because most end-of-life electronics contain toxic materials such as lead, mercury, cadmium and other chemicals like Brominated Flame Retardants. Discarding these materials in landfills has a negative impact on the environment, polluting our communities’ air, soil and water. Virtually all components of e-Scrap are recyclable so the Green Island Team is making a difference in our environment.

During Earth Week April 18-22, a local Electronics Recycler is collecting “end-of-life” equipment to recycle in a responsible manner. The recycler, Sunnking, is the first R2 (Responsible Recycling) Certified electronics recycling facility in New York State, which requires them to be accountable for proper environmental, worker health, safety and security practices. The certification also requires them to adhere to general principles and specific practices for disassembling or reclaiming used electronics equipment.

E-SCRAP FACTS:


~ Monitors and televisions with cathode ray tubes (CRTs) contain 4-8lbs of lead on average.

~ Less than 20% of e-scrap is recycled in the United States.

~ The U.S. dumps between 300 million and 400 million electronic items per year

~ E-Scrap represents 2% of America’s trash in landfills, but it equals 70% of overall toxic waste.

~ About 50 millions cell phones are replaced worldwide a month, and only 10% are recycled.

~ The EPA estimates that in 2007, the US generated over 3 million TONS of e-scrap.

~ But only 13.6% of that was collected for recycling

~ Over 112,000 computers (desktops and laptops combined) were discarded in 2007 in the US every single day.