As the first decade of the 21st Century winds down, many people are making resolutions to clean up and throw out tech devices that are obsolete. Rapid developments in cell phone technology leads consumers to abandon their old mobile phones for smartphones that allow web browsing, text messaging, and social networking. But proper disposal of old phones is key to keeping hazardous waste from landfills and solid waste systems.
Consumers Scrap Old Cellular Technology for New
According to a recent Nielsen consumer report, the use of cellular technology with broadband data and web surfing capabilities increased to 56.9 million users in 2009 – up from 42.5 million the previous year. Consumers are scrapping older technology phones primarily used to transmit voice for those offering multiple applications, thus adding to the mounting clutter of discarded phones.
Clean Out Junk Drawer Electronic Waste
Cleaning out household junk drawers and office storage areas filled with electronic waste (e-waste) is especially popular as consumers enter the new year. But disposal of e-waste is tricky. Along with cellular and cordless phones, PDAs and pagers, many electronic products contain dry-cell or rechargeable batteries that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) describes as "universal waste", unfit for inclusion in solid waste management systems.
Common products that end up as e-waste include:
- camcorders
- cellular and cordless phones
- cordless power tools
- digital cameras
- GPS devices
- laptop and personal computers
- remote control toys
Recycle Rather Than Toss Outdated Electronics
The EPA urges electronics recycling to recapture plastics and metal parts for use in new devices. But the devices are not the problem – it's the batteries used to power them that pose the biggest environmental threat. Heavy metals within the batteries react with the soil and air, especially when incinerated in solid waste facilities.
Battery Recycling and Disposal
Consumers purchase 3 billion dry-cell batteries made up of at least one electrochemical cell each year to power a variety of household and office products. The EPA estimates 8 dry-cell batteries per consumer are tossed each year. These include:
- Dry-cell batteries for use in common household products like flashlights and small appliances (AA,AAA,D,C, and 9-volt) contain alkaline, carbon and zinc that leach into soil and water near landfills.
- Button-cell batteries used for small electronics like hearing aids and wristwatches contain mercury and zinc oxides.
- Lithium is a primary ingredient in 9-volt and rechargeable batteries used to power a wide variety of electronics.
Rechargeable Batteries Pose Threat to Solid Waste Systems
Although rechargeable batteries like those used to power cellphones are discarded at a slower rate than dry-cell batteries, they contain heavy metal concentrations that spoil solid waste management systems. The EPA outlines disposal procedures for rechargeable batteries on its website and urges consumers to be wary of tossing these heavy metals into the trash:
- Nicad or Nickle Cadmium batteries
- Lithium Ion batteries
- Nickle Metal Hydride batteries
- Small sealed lead batteries
Battery disposal in a responsible manner is easy through battery recycling programs run at local, state and nationwide levels. Many companies producing electronic products like cellular phones and laptops offer guidelines on their websites for recycling outdated electronics.
Alternatives to Tossing Out Outdated Electronics
The EPA dedicates a website to responsible and environmentally friendly ways to dispose of cellular phones and other electronic devices and provides links to disposal organizations across the U.S. Many programs refurbish phones to seniors, crime victims, and physically or mentally challenged individuals. Websites like AlternativeWireless.com list organizations that retrieve and recycle donated phones to needy individuals and groups. ReCellular.com buys and sells used mobiles and recycles phones throughout more than 40 countries.
Remove SIM Cards and Erase Memory Before Recycling
Consumers resolving to clean up and organize the clutter of their homes and offices should be wary before recycling devices that contain personal data. Erase memory from laptops, digital cameras, and personal computers and remove SIM cards from mobile phones and PDAs before recycling them.
Reducing the waistline as well as reducing e-waste should be at the top of every New Year's resolution list this year. And if keeping that resolution is a challenge, the U.S. Government offers a webpage designed to help U.S. citizens stick to their resolutions.
RES101
Karen T Escalona - I started finishing other people’s sentences at an early age and took every opportunity to help others tell their stories. The fact ...
