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Recycling e-wastes protects California’s water sources
22/Sep/2006: Californian laws on disposal of hazardous wastes are the toughest in the nation and were enacted to regulate dumping of wastes containing mercury, lead and other toxic heavy metals, which could easily seep into the land contaminating the ground water table.
In 2005 the state enacted a law that made disposal of computers and cell phones in landfills, illegal. Under this new law, cell phone retailers are required to collect old cell phones from customers for free and send them for recycling. Another law passed earlier this year bans the disposal of batteries in landfills. Such enactments along with the developments in technology have given birth to a new robust sub-industry in California: e-waste recycling.
California’s Department of Toxic Substances said that the biggest concern for the state is the disposal of wastes containing lead and liquid mercury. When items containing mercury are disposed carelessly, mercury is released as fumes that are toxic if inhaled. Apart from this mercury and lead can also seep in to the land, polluting the ground water or get washed in to rivers or oceans by rains, where they poison fish and move up the food chain. Exposure to mercury can cause damages to nervous, respiratory and renal systems, skin and eyes. Lead poisoning leads to mental retardation in young children and damages the central nervous system in adults. Even materials (batteries, electrical and electronic items) that are commonly used in homes, which contain mercury or lead, are no more allowed to be dumped in landfills.
Electronic recyclers can turn e-wastes in to plastics, metals, glass and other commodities that can be sold back to computer and electronic goods manufacturers for reuse. The potential of this new industry is enormous considering the quantum of electrical and electronic products that are sent for recycling every year. Recycling products that contains heavy metals, lead or mercury can prevent these toxic materials from contaminating the environment. Recycling e-wastes can also help in securing safe drinking water supplies for the future.
If other states take the lead from California in this issue, United States can be free from heavy metal poisoning caused by e-wastes, in the future.
Kesavan Siva
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