Video Products. Audio Products. Information Products

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WASTE NOT, WANT NOT! (WN)2 INSTITUTEEnvironmental
Issues of E-Waste

• Train-the-Trainer Workshop
• June 14 18th, 2004
• Center for Mathematics and Science Education
• University of Arkansas - Fayetteville
• Presented and Hosted
• by
• A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency funded
  institute sponsored by the University of Arkansas
  and the Center for Mathematics and Science
  Education

Lynne Hehr Director, Center for Mathematics and
Science Education University of Arkansas
Stephan Pollard Doctoral Student, Environmental
Dynamics Ph.D. Program University of Arkansas
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ELECTRONIC WASTE(E-Waste)

• Problems Overview
• Presented as part of
• WASTE NOT, WANT NOT (WN)2 Environmental Issues
  of Waste Disposal
• Stephan PollardEnvironmental Dynamics
  ProgramUniversity of Arkansas June 14, 2004,
  University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas

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ELECTRONIC WASTE(E-Waste)

• Problems Overview
• Presented as part of
• WASTE NOT, WANT NOT (WN)2 Environmental Issues
  of Waste Disposal
• Stephan PollardEnvironmental Dynamics
  ProgramUniversity of Arkansas June 14, 2004,
  University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas

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ELECTRONIC WASTE A GROWING PHENOMENON

• Over 20,000,000 PCs became obsolete in the US in
  1998

• Between 1997 and 2007, nearly 500,000,000 PCs
  will become obsolete almost two for every man,
  woman, and child in the United States.

• People and businesses store their TVs, monitors,
  printers, and other electronic equipment in
  attics, basements, and warehouses thinking they
  may still be valuable (Ex. Chicago Public
  Schools 18,000 pieces of obsolete equipment
  stored in 600 schools around the city)

• By 2005 over 100,000,000 cell phones will be
  retired annually!

• By 2005, 500,000,000 cell phones weighing over
  250,000 tons will be stockpiled and awaiting
  disposal

• While end-of-life electronics currently comprise
  only a small amount (1 to 2 percent) of the
  municipal waste stream, that percentage is
  expected to grow dramatically in the next few
  years.

• Electronic products often contain hazardous and
  toxic materials that pose environmental risks if
  they are landfilled or incinerated.

See http//www.nrc-recycle.org/resources/electroni
cs/managing.htm, INFORMs Calling All Cell
Phones, 2003, and http//www.wastenews.com/headli
nes2.html?id1086806836
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ELECTRONIC WASTE - CONCERNS

• the volume of computers and related electronic
  equipment improperly disposed of in municipal
  solid waste landfills
• the toxicity of both the computer manufacturing
  process and the computer and CRT itself as a
  waste product
• the shipping of discarded computers to such
  countries as China, Vietnam, India, and Pakistan
  where children and adults pick apart the toxic
  innards

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ELECTRONIC versus ELECTRICWhat are we talking
about?

• ELECTRONIC ITEMS
• Process and display information and possess
  complex circuitry, circuit boards, or signal
  processing.

Information Products
Audio Products
Video Products
Televisions Projection TV HDTV LCD TV TV/VCR
Combinations Videocassette Players VCR
Decks Camcorders Laserdiscs Players DVD
Players TV/PC Combinations Digital Cameras OTHER
Rack Audio Systems Compact Audio Systems Portable
CD Players Portable Headset Audio Total CD
Players Home Radios Tape Decks Amplifiers Tuners H
ome Theater in a Box OTHER
Cordless/Corded Telephones Wireless
Telephones Tel. Answering Machines Fax
Machines Personal Word Processors Personal
Computers Computer Printers Computer
Monitors Modems/Fax Modems Appliances w/Info
Displays Pagers Radar Detectors Electronic
Games Calculators Digital Thermostats OTHER
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ELECTRONIC versus ELECTRICWhat are we talking
about?

• ELECTRIC ITEMS
• Use electricity to operate but do not display or
  process information.

Mercury
Lead
Contain Hazardous Waste
X X X X X
X X
X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Power tools Blenders, Toasters, Frying
Pans Coffee Makers without Timers Irons Curling
Irons Major Appliances without Timers Light
Bulbs Electric Space Heaters Electric Pianos and
Organs Manual Thermostats Electric
Toothbrushes Electric Razors Refrigerators and
Freezers Central Air Conditioners OTHERS
See http//www.nwf.org/mercury/tour.cfm for more
mercury containing household items.
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SPECIFIC DANGERS of ELECTRONIC WASTE
Lead

• Toxic to ________________________________________
  _______

nervous reproductive systems, kidneys,
inhibits mental development of young children
fetuses

• Consumer electronics constitute 40 of lead
  found in landfills

can leach contaminate drinking water supplies

• Main concern - __________________________________
  _____

• Main application of lead in computers -
• ___________________________
• ____________________________________________

soldering of printed circuit boards
glass panels in computer monitors (cathode ray
tubes)

• Over the past eight years over 315 million
  computers became obsolete in the USA.
• How many pounds of lead do you think this
  amounts to? ___________________

1,200,000,000 pounds!
See http//www.retrosystems.com/problems.htm and
http//www.svtc.org/cleancc/pubs/poisonpc.htm for
more detail.
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CRT GLASS Contains lead oxide classed as a
hazardous waste under the International Basel
Convention. Basel Convention - United Nations
treaty banning the export of e-waste to
developing countries. Although 41 nations have
ratified the convention, the U.S. has not.
Therefore, U.S. companies aren't bound by it.
Cathode ray tubes sit by river edge in Guiyu,
China .
Photo By Stefan Irvine

• Single samples taken by the BAN researchers in
  the region tested
• LEAD - 190 times the World Health Organization's
  safe level
• CHROMIUM - 1338 times the level deemed safe in
  the US
• TIN - 152 times the US threshold.

Young woman about to break the gun off a cathode
ray tube to get the copper wire from the yoke.
http//news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/w
orld/2002/disposable_planet/waste/chinese_workshop
/5.stm
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CRTs are PARTICULARLY PROBLEMATIC

• Lead content may represent as much as 80 of
  toxic metals in discarded electronics

• CRTs represent 1/3 of electronics tonnage

• Computer monitors contain, on average, 2-5
  pounds of lead

• TVs, have on average, 4-8 pounds of lead
  (depending on age and size)

• Lead in frit usually tests to be hazardous waste
  using TCLP procedure

• Weak market for glass with high lead content

• When landfilled increased concentrations of
  heavy metals may result lead in frit readily
  leaches

• When incinerated heavy metals become
  concentrated in ash limiting disposal and reuse
  options

Source Microelectronics and Computer Technology
Corporation (MCC), 1996 Electronics Industry
Environmental Roadmap, MCC Information Center,
Austin, 1996.
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SPECIFIC DANGERS of ELECTRONIC WASTE
Cadmium

• Can cause damage to _____________________________
  ___

lungs kidneys harm to fragile bones

• Main concerns - _________________________________
  ___________
• ___________________________________
  _________

can leach contaminate food drinking water
supplies
can become airborne absorbed through respiration

• Main applications of cadmium in electronic
  electrical equipment -
• _________________________________________________
  ______
• __________________________
• ___________________

Surface Mount Device (SMD) chip resistors,
infrared detectors, semi-conductors, batteries
older types of cathode ray tubes
used as plastic stabilizer

• Over the past eight years over 315 million
  computers became obsolete in the USA.
• How many pounds of cadmium do you think this
  amounts to? ________________

2,000,000 pounds!
See http//www.retrosystems.com/problems.htm and
http//www.svtc.org/cleancc/pubs/poisonpc.htm for
more detail.
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SPECIFIC DANGERS of ELECTRONIC WASTE
Mercury

• Can cause damage to _____________________________
  ______

brain kidneys harm the developing fetus

• Main concerns - _________________________________
  ___________

can leach contaminate food drinking water
supplies

• Main applications of mercury in electronic
  electrical equipment -
• _________________________________________________
  ____________
• _______
• ____________
• _________________________________________________
  ___________

thermostats, position sensors, relays, circuit
boards, measuring equipment
batteries
mobile phones
discharge lamps (flourescent lamps other
mercury vapor pressure lamps)

• Over the past eight years over 315 million
  computers became obsolete in the USA.
• How many pounds of mercury do you think this
  amounts to? ______________

400,000 pounds!
See http//www.retrosystems.com/problems.htm and
http//www.svtc.org/cleancc/pubs/poisonpc.htm for
more detail.
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DISCARDED PHONES

• By 2005 more than 500,000,000 cell phones
  weighing over 500,000,000 pounds will be
  stockpiled in closets and drawers and awaiting
  disposal

• Thus far less than 1 percent of the millions of
  cell phones retired and discarded each year have
  been collected.

• When burned - pollutes air with dioxins and
  furans
• When landfilled - contaminates ground water

CELL PHONES CONTAIN antimony, arsenic,
beryllium, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, and
zinc persistent, bioaccumulative toxins

• Most Toxics are in
• Printed wiring boards
• Liquid-crystal displays

See http//www.informinc.org/calling_cellphones.ph
p for more detail.
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SPECIFIC DANGERS of ELECTRONIC WASTE
Hexavalent Chromium (Chromium VI)

• Can cause _______________________________________
  _________________

lung cancer, permanent eye damage, ulcers in
the nose and on skin
can leach from landfilled incinerator fly ash

• Main concerns - _________________________________
  _
• _____________________
  ___________

exposure during manufacturing process

• Main applications of hexavalent chromium in
  electronic electrical equipment -
• ___________________________________________
• _________________________________

corrosion protection of untreated and galvanized
steel
decorative and hardener for steel housing

• Over the past eight years over 315 million
  computers became obsolete in the USA.
• How many pounds of chromium do you think this
  amounts to? ________________

1,200,000 pounds!
See http//www.retrosystems.com/problems.htm and
http//www.svtc.org/cleancc/pubs/poisonpc.htm for
more detail.
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SPECIFIC DANGERS of ELECTRONIC WASTE
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

• Can cause _______________________________________
  __________________

endocrine disruption, reproductive abnormalities,
neurological problems, infertility, death when
incinerated fumes are inhaled

• Main concerns - _________________________________
  _______
• ________________________________________________
  ___

incineration produces toxic dioxins
carcinogenic!
burn barrels/open burning of PVC can produce
large amounts of dioxins

• Main applications of PVC in electronic
  electrical equipment -
• ___________________________________________
• _________________________________________________
  ________

cable wiring cover (for its fire retardant
properties)
older computer housings (newer computers are made
with ABS plastic)

• The largest volume of plastics used in
  electronics manufacturing was PVC (at 26).
• How many pounds of PVC are there in the
  1,000,000,000 pounds of plastic scrap produced
  yearly by the electronics industry?
  __________________

260,000,000 pounds!
See http//www.retrosystems.com/problems.htm and
http//www.svtc.org/cleancc/pubs/poisonpc.htm for
more detail.
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SPECIFIC DANGERS of ELECTRONIC WASTE
Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs) Four types
PDBEs, PBB, TBBPA, HBCD

• May cause _______________________________________
  ___________________

nuero-developmental deficits, intellectual
impairment, shortened lactation

• Main concerns - _________________________________
  ___________________
• ________________________________________________
  _____
• ________________________________________________
  ____

dust containing toxic flame-retardants generated
from usage of electronic and electrical equipment
and the recycling and disposal of the waste is
spread into the air
burning or heating of some brominated
flame-retardants produces toxic dioxins furans
US women have the highest breast milk
concentrations of PDBE

• Main applications of brominated flame retardants
  in electronic electrical equipment
• ______________________________________________
• ______________________________________________

printed circuit boards, connectors, plastic
covers, cables
plastic covers of TV sets in domestic kitchen
appliances

• Over the past eight years over 315 million
  computers became obsolete in the USA.
• Concerning the monitors how many pounds of
  brominated flame-retardants do you think this
  amounts to? __________________

350,000,000 pounds! What about the CPUs wiring
boards?
See http//www.retrosystems.com/problems.htm,
http//www.svtc.org/hu_health/edcs/bfrs/pbdes/BFRP
res2_files/frame.htm, http//www.computertakeback.
com/the_problem/bfr.cfm for more detail.
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Whats your Personal Computer made of?
14 Aluminum
1 Nickel
2 Zinc
6 Lead
25 Silica
23 Plastic
1 Tin
25 Iron
7 Copper
lt1 Chromium, Cadmium, Arsenic, Mercury, Gold,
Titanium, Silver, Manganese, Antimony, and
Platinum
Source Californias Electronic Hazardous Waste
Regulations, presented by Karl Palmer at the UC
Irving Industrial Ecology Symposium Seminar on
Electronic Design, Manufacturing, and the
Environment, April 4, 2003.
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WIRE and CIRCUIT BOARD BURNING
EXTRACTING SOLDER, STEEL, COPPER

• Produces dioxins furans from combustion of
• Polyvinyl Chloride
• Brominated Flame-Retardants

India
Vietnam
China