Electronic Recycling- The Truth Exposed

When electronic wastes are not properly recycled, heavy chemicals and carcinogenic chemicals make their way into our drinking water, land, air, food, and eventually into our bodies. With the availability of and the constant switch to H.D.T.V.s, more and more "old" televisions and monitors are being thrown out. These "old" television sets and computer monitors contain high amounts of harmful heavy metals, including the well-known mercury and lead, among other chemicals. With the constant demand for faster and smaller computers, a large number of computers are also being thrown out. Computers also contain harmful chemicals, as with almost every electronic product. A new generation of electronic waste programs was set up by the government, environmentalists, and electronics industries in response to the influx of electronic wastes filling up landfills. Some are recycled within the United States and others are illegally shipped to other countries, such as Ghana. Each of these countries are dealing with electronics consumerism in very different ways. It is safe to say, however, that these different ways are collectively detrimental to the environment and the people inhabiting these countries.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• electronic
• recycling