A recent episode of “60 Minutes” on CBS focused on the global dumping of electronic garbage. Reporters tracked electronic waste from a company in Denver to Hong Kong, China, where they captured the company “recycling” it and dumping it illegally.
Because of the high percentage of recycled electronics and computers that end up as high-tech e-waste in developing nations like China, India, and Africa, it is incumbent upon us to act as global citizens by being selective in our selection of computer and electronics recycling organizations. Only companies with a complete and ethical recycling process for electronics should receive our financial backing. It is helpful to grasp the economic model of electronic recycling to comprehend the process of global dumping.
Electronic recyclers need to make enough money from their recycling and reuse services. The sale of recovered precious metals and other recyclable materials to cover their running expenses and the cost of de-manufacturing products is not profitable. (yet harm the environment).
What sets apart a company that is environmentally responsible from one that isn’t is how they handle the de-manufacturing process of low-value, toxic elements; how they generate reuse revenues; and how they reclaim precious metals and recycle materials.
Think for a second about how precious metals are recovered. Any company worth its salt would prioritize ensuring its employees are provided with enough safety equipment and training and that any waste generated is correctly disposed of. In addition, professional electronics recyclers will use specialized de-manufacturing equipment that seals off the work area to prevent the spread of potentially hazardous contaminants or dust.
In the de-manufacturing process, an irresponsible recycling firm will not invest. In truth, the workers who disassemble the electronics never set eyes on the unscrupulous recycling businesses. Workers are typically low-paid villagers, as seen in the “60 Minutes” documentary. They use their bare hands and crude equipment like chisels and hammers to peel the precious materials from the discarded items. Public health crises ensue when the remaining waste is thrown in waterways or burned in a wetland.
Low-value, poisonous compounds, such as Mercury in switches and flat screens and brominated flame retardants used on printed circuit boards, wires, and plastic casings, are the most dangerous components of e-waste. Large sums of money are needed to de-manufacture these materials. Responsible electronic recycling is challenging because of the high expense of running a secure de-manufacturing facility, which is why the alternative, worldwide dumping, is so popular.
Many “recycling collectors” ship their materials to irresponsible recyclers, who then “sell” the recycling cargo to exporters to take advantage of the higher recovery prices the irresponsible global dumpers provide. The electronic garbage shipment is delivered to the ports of the world’s poorest countries after a few handshakes. However, most recycled electronic waste is either too old or out of order to have any reuse value. It is exported under the name “Used Equipment” because the United States prohibits the dumping of electronic waste in other countries.
One must be aware of the red flags that indicate a recycling company is involved in global dumping to select a reputable recycler.
Wasteful recycling businesses:
Companies should not use their websites or promotional materials to inform customers about the e-waste problem. To avoid customer queries, irresponsible electronics recyclers make the process look simple.
Avoid global dumping by not disclosing how they track and manage the recycling process. Again, an irresponsible electronics recycler can more easily engage in some global disposal the less informed the consumer is.
Hold greenwashing events with reputable organizations unaware of how to recycle correctly. These electronics recyclers further disarm the general public about “donating” their unwanted electronics at “fundraising” events by making the recycling process sound simple and hiding under the guise of fundraising for schools, chambers of commerce, police association leagues, and other nonprofits. Recycling centers that give to a greenwash campaign can cover the expensive costs of de-manufacturing hazardous materials without collecting any recycling fees from their customers. This hypothetical company structure doesn’t exist since its benefits are too great to be
accurate. It’s a waste of the charities’ time and effort, too. These “recyclers” for charity take things that can be sold for money and dump them in third-world countries. Since selling them as “exports” incurs minimal costs, developing countries end up with 80% of the computer and electronics recycling materials in the United States.
Lack either a valid business license or a fixed location for their electronic waste recycling operation. For many, a P.O. Box or a phone number they advertise during neighborhood pickup drives. It’s always an answering machine when you call. No one is available to provide additional information about their offerings.
Now that you know how to spot an unreliable electronics recycler, it’s time to go through the characteristics of a trustworthy one.
Find a company that has publicly stated its intention to help with the global problem of electronic trash.
Rely on computer and electronics recycling services that inform the public about the e-waste crisis and the ethical disposal of old equipment.
Ensure the electronics recycling company you choose has a detailed procedure for determining which products can be reused and which must be de-manufactured and a tracking mechanism to keep tabs on this.
To ensure the health and safety of the people involved, only de-manufacturing facilities in the United States with the appropriate permits, de-manufacturing machines and processes, and safety and health monitoring systems should be used by electronic recyclers.
Rely on computer and electronics recyclers that earn enough money from their services to put aside enough money to handle dangerous items properly.
Pick a recycler of electronic devices that has earned the esteem of environmentalists who have paid close attention to the plight of e-waste. These ecologists have observed dumping first-hand and can tell you how to spot trustworthy recyclers.
GreenCitizen, Inc. is a global recycling organization focusing on ethically disposing of electronic trash. GreenCitizen currently operates recycling centers in three different San Francisco Bay Area locations: 591 Howard Street (at 2nd Street), 801 Mahler Road, Suite I (just north of the Hyatt), and 161 Homer Avenue (right next door to Peet’s Coffee and Whole Foods Market) in downtown Palo Alto. Learn more about electronic waste disposal and how you can assist at.
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Katika kipindi cha 60 Minutes cha CBS, mwandishi wa habari wa Marekani, John H. Kelley, alielezea jinsi mazingira ya umeme yanavyotumiwa na watu wengi duniani. Waandishi wa habari walifuatilia taka za elektroniki kutoka kampuni moja huko Denver hadi Hong Kong, China, ambapo walikamata kampuni hiyo "ikiirudisha" na kuitupa kinyume cha sheria. Kwa sababu ya asilimia kubwa ya vifaa vya elektroniki na kompyuta vilivyotumika kama taka za teknolojia ya juu katika nchi zinazoendelea kama vile China, India na Afrika, ni wajibu wetu kutenda kama raia wa ulimwengu kwa kuwa wa kuchagua katika uteuzi wetu wa vifaa vya kompyuta na elektroniki. Ni makampuni tu yenye mchakato kamili na wa maadili wa kuchakata vifaa vya elektroniki yanayopaswa kupokea msaada wetu wa kifedha. Ni muhimu kuelewa mfano wa kiuchumi wa kuchakata vifaa vya elektroniki ili kuelewa mchakato wa kutupa bidhaa ulimwenguni pote. Wauzaji wa vifaa vya elektroniki wanahitaji kupata pesa za kutosha kutokana na huduma zao za kuchakata na kutumia tena. Uuzaji wa metali za thamani zilizopatikana na vifaa vingine vinavyoweza kurejeshwa ili kufidia gharama zao za kuendesha na gharama za kuacha utengenezaji wa bidhaa sio faida. (lakini huumiza mazingira). Kile kinachotenganisha kampuni inayowajibika kwa mazingira na ile isiyo hivyo ni jinsi wanavyofanya kazi ya mchakato wa kutengeneza vitu vyenye sumu vyenye thamani ya chini; jinsi wanavyozalisha mapato ya matumizi ya tena; na jinsi wanavyotumia metali za thamani na vifaa vya kuchakata. Fikiria kwa muda kuhusu jinsi metali zenye thamani zinavyopatikana. Kampuni yoyote inayostahili chumvi yake ingekuwa na kipaumbele kuhakikisha wafanyikazi wake wanapewa vifaa vya usalama vya kutosha na mafunzo na kwamba taka yoyote inayotokana hutolewa kwa usahihi. Kwa kuongezea, wataalamu wa vifaa vya elektroniki watatumia vifaa maalum vya kutengeneza ambavyo hufunga eneo la kazi ili kuzuia kuenea kwa uchafuzi au vumbi vyenye hatari. Katika mchakato wa de-utengenezaji, kampuni isiyo na uwajibikaji ya kuchakata haitashiriki. Kwa kweli, wafanyakazi wanaotenganisha vifaa vya elektroniki hawajawahi kamwe kuona biashara zisizo na adabu za kuchakata vitu. "Wanafunzi wa shule za msingi wanafanya kazi kwa kiwango cha chini, kama inavyoonekana katika filamu ya ""60 Minutes.""" Wanatumia mikono yao na vifaa vya kawaida kama vile nyundo na nyundo kuondoa vifaa vyenye thamani kutoka kwa vitu vilivyotupwa. Mgogoro wa afya ya umma hutokea wakati taka zilizobaki zinapoponywa katika njia za maji au kuchomwa moto katika maeneo yenye unyevunyevu. Vifaa vya sumu vya thamani ya chini, kama vile mercury katika swichi na skrini za gorofa na bromine flame retardants zinazotumiwa kwenye bodi za mzunguko zilizochapishwa, waya, na casings za plastiki, ni sehemu hatari zaidi za taka za elektroniki. Pesa nyingi zinahitajika ili kuondoa utengenezaji wa vifaa hivyo. Utaratibu wa kuondoa vifaa vya elektroniki ni ngumu kwa sababu ya gharama kubwa ya kuendesha kituo cha kuondoa vifaa vya elektroniki, na kwa hivyo mbadala, kutupa ulimwenguni kote, ni maarufu sana. Wengi "kuchakata recycling" meli vifaa vyao kwa recyclers irresponsible, ambao kisha "kuuza" mizigo ya recycling kwa wauzaji kuuza nje kuchukua faida ya bei ya juu ya uokoaji wa kimataifa irresponsible dumpers kutoa. Usafirishaji wa taka za elektroniki hutolewa kwa bandari za nchi maskini zaidi ulimwenguni baada ya kushikana mikono chache. Hata hivyo, taka nyingi za elektroniki zilizorudishwa ni za zamani sana au hazifanyi kazi vizuri hivi kwamba haziwezi kutumiwa tena. Ni kusafirishwa chini ya jina <unk>Matumizi ya vifaa<unk> kwa sababu Marekani inakataza kutupa taka za elektroniki katika nchi nyingine. Ni muhimu kujua bendera nyekundu ambazo zinaonyesha kampuni ya kuchakata inahusika katika kutupa kwa ulimwengu ili kuchagua mchimbaji wa kuaminika. Kampuni za kuchakata hazipaswi kutumia tovuti zao au vifaa vya uendelezaji kuwajulisha wateja kuhusu tatizo la taka za elektroniki. Ili kuepuka maswali ya wateja, wauzaji wasio na wajibu wa vifaa vya elektroniki hufanya mchakato huo uonekane kuwa rahisi. Kuepuka kutupa kimataifa kwa si kufunua jinsi wao kufuatilia na kusimamia mchakato wa kuchakata. Kwa mara nyingine tena, recycler wa elektroniki asiye na wajibu anaweza kushiriki kwa urahisi katika baadhi ya kuondoa kimataifa watumiaji ni chini ya taarifa. Mifumo ya Greenwashing ni ya kawaida kwa watu ambao hawajui jinsi ya kuondoa na kuondoa. Wanasindikaji hawa wa vifaa vya elektroniki wanafanya umma kuepuka kutoa vifaa vya elektroniki vyao visivyotakiwa katika hafla za kukusanya fedha kwa kufanya mchakato wa kukusanya pesa uonekane rahisi na kujificha chini ya kivuli cha kukusanya fedha kwa shule, vyumba vya biashara, ligi za vyama vya polisi, na mashirika mengine yasiyo ya faida. Vituo vya kuchakata ambavyo vinatoa kwa kampeni ya greenwash vinaweza kufunika gharama ghali za kuondoa vifaa vyenye hatari bila kukusanya ada yoyote ya kuchakata kutoka kwa wateja wao. Muundo huu wa kampuni ya nadharia haipo kwa sababu faida zake ni kubwa sana kuwa sahihi. Ni kupoteza wakati na jitihada za misaada, pia. "Watu hao wanaotumia vitu vya kale" kwa ajili ya misaada huchukua vitu vinavyoweza kuuzwa kwa pesa na kuviangusha katika nchi za ulimwengu wa tatu. Kwa kuwa kuuza kama "mauzo ya nje" huchukua gharama ndogo, nchi zinazoendelea huishia na 80% ya vifaa vya kompyuta na elektroniki vya kuchakata nchini Marekani. Hawana leseni halali ya biashara au eneo la kudumu kwa operesheni yao ya kuchakata taka za elektroniki. Kwa wengi, P.O. Sanduku au nambari ya simu wanayoitangaza wakati wa kusafiri kwa jirani. Ni daima mashine ya kujibu wakati wewe wito. Hakuna mtu anayepatikana kutoa habari za ziada kuhusu matoleo yao. Sasa kwa kuwa unajua jinsi ya kutambua recycler umeme unreliable, ni wakati wa kwenda kupitia sifa ya moja ya kuaminika. Tafuta kampuni ambayo imesema hadharani nia yake ya kusaidia na tatizo la kimataifa la taka za elektroniki. Tumaini la huduma za kuchakata kompyuta na vifaa vya elektroniki ambavyo vinawajulisha umma juu ya mgogoro wa taka za elektroniki na kuondoa kwa maadili vifaa vya zamani. Hakikisha kampuni ya kuchakata vifaa vya elektroniki unaochagua ina utaratibu wa kina wa kuamua ni bidhaa zipi zinazoweza kutumiwa tena na ambazo lazima zitengenezwe na utaratibu wa kufuatilia ili kuweka tabo juu ya hili. Ili kuhakikisha afya na usalama wa watu wanaohusika, tu vifaa vya kuondoa utengenezaji nchini Marekani na vibali vinavyofaa, mashine za kuondoa utengenezaji na michakato, na mifumo ya ufuatiliaji wa usalama na afya inapaswa kutumika na wauzaji wa vifaa vya elektroniki. Wateja wa kompyuta na vifaa vya elektroniki wanaotumia vifaa vya kompyuta na vifaa vya elektroniki vya elektroniki wanafanya kazi kwa bidii na wanafanya kazi kwa bidii ili kupata pesa za kutosha kwa ajili ya vifaa vya kompyuta na vifaa vya elektroniki. Chagua kampuni ya kuchakata vifaa vya elektroniki ambayo imepata heshima ya watetezi wa mazingira ambao wamekuwa wakizingatia sana hali mbaya ya taka za elektroniki. Wataalamu hao wa mazingira wameona mafuriko ya maji yakitupwa na wanaweza kukuambia jinsi ya kuwatambua watu wanaoweza kuaminiwa wanaotumia maji hayo tena. GreenCitizen, Inc. ni shirika la kimataifa la kuchakata ambalo linazingatia kuondoa taka za elektroniki kwa njia ya maadili. Green Citizen sasa inafanya kazi vituo vya kuchakata katika maeneo matatu tofauti ya San Francisco Bay Area: 591 Howard Street, 801 Mahler Road, Suite I, na 161 Homer Avenue, karibu na Peet's Coffee na Whole Foods Market, katika jiji la Palo Alto. Jifunze zaidi kuhusu kuondoa taka za elektroniki na jinsi unavyoweza kusaidia. Soma pia: Injection Molding Kutoka kwa maoni ya molders