Statistics

Electronic equipment has been characterized as a fast growing category of municipal solid waste. Experts predict consumers will be replacing equipment more often in the future, leading to greater waste. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), nearly 3 million tons of consumer electronic waste was generated in 2003 alone, the latest year for which figures are available. It's estimated that only about 11 percent of this was recycled. Since electronic equipment contains toxic chemicals, this can pose health and environmental risks, particularly in landfills where toxins may leak into the soil and ground water.

The following results from a recent Consumer Reports online survey provide a glimpse of how Americans with Internet access use and dispose of electronic products:

Computers:

Computers owned and in use: About 9 in 10 consumers own a computer currently in use.

Computers in storage: About 2 in 10 consumers have either a desktop or a laptop that they own and aren't using.

Computers replaced in the last year: About 3 in 10 consumers replaced their computer last year. Of these,

• About half did so because it was too slow;
• About half did so because they wanted newer technology or features;
• About one-third did so because they either needed more memory (RAM) or could not upgrade (reasons for not being able to upgrade not identified);
• And 14% did so because their computer had been ruined by viruses or spyware

Computers thrown away in the trash: Nearly 2 in 10 consumers that disposed of a desktop computer or monitor in the past year threw them in the trash. Fourteen percent of those that disposed of a laptop computer last year threw it in the trash.

TV sets:

TVs owned: Consumers own a median of 3.5 TV sets, whether in use or gathering dust.

TVs replaced in the last year: 2 in 10 consumers replaced their TV in the past year. Of these,

• About one-third had TVs that stopped working
• About one-quarter did so because their screen was too small
• About one-quarter did so because they wanted another TV
• About one-fifth wanted an HDTV for higher picture quality

TVs thrown away in the trash: 3 in 10 consumers that disposed of a TV in the past year threw away their old TVs in the trash.

Cell phones:

Cell phones owned and use: About 8 in 10 consumers own a cell phone they currently use.

Cell phones in storage: 2 in 10 consumers had cell phones which weren't being used.

Cell phones replaced: About 4 in 10 consumers replaced their cell phones last year. Of these,

• About one-third wanted new features
• One-fifth just wanted something new
• About one-fifth changed carriers or service plans
• About one-fifth did so because their battery couldn't hold a charge

Cell phones thrown away in the trash: About 2 in 10 consumers threw away their cell phone in the trash last year.

"The keystone of our high tech revolution is rapid innovation which now brings new technologies to market every 18 months. The useful life-span of a personal computer has shrunk from four of five years to two years. For all its benefits, our renaissance of innovation brings with it the interrelated consequences of rapid obsolescence."

"Electronic waste already constitutes from 2% to 5% of the US municipal solid waste stream and is growing rapidly. European studies estimate that the volume of electronic waste is rising by 3% to 5% per year - almost three times faster than the municipal waste stream."

"According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in 1997 more than 3.2 million tons of E-waste ended up in US landfills. In a new report for the EPA, analysts estimate that the amount of E-waste in US landfills will grow fourfold in the next few years."

"Analysts estimate that more than 6000 computers become obsolete in California every day. They are either tossed out with the trash and subsequently landfilled by trash collectors - often illegally - or stored in attics and garages for a later day when they will be dumped."

"Between 1997 and 2007, nearly 500 million personal computers became obsolete. Almost two computers for each person in the U.S. Some studies predict that a large number of televisions will be disposed when high definition television becomes widely available. (Source: National Recycling Coalition)."

"Nearly two million tons of used electronics, including computers and televisions, are discarded each year. In addition, an estimated 128 million cell phones are retired from use annually, according to the EPA."

"Electronics often contain useful materials such as precious metals, glass, and plastics that should be recovered rather than buried in a landfill. For example, precious metals are used in computer circuit boards and other electronic components, and of course glass and plastics are used for TV and computer monitors. Recycling these products reduces the need to mine the earth for raw materials."

"Heavy metals and other materials such as lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic and even PCBs found in many electronics can be harmful to the environment and our health if the products are not properly disposed."

"The crisis continues to grow. Studies estimate that the number of obsolete computers in the United States will soon be as high as 315 to 680 million units. By the year 2005, one computer will become obsolete for every new computer put on the market."

"Each computer of television display contains an average of 4 to 8 pounds of lead. The 315 million computers that will become obsolete between 1997 and 2004 contain a total of more than 1.2 billion pounds of lead. Monitor glass contains about 20% lead by weight. When these components are illegally disposed and crushed in landfills, the lead is released into the environment, posing a hazardous legacy for current and future generations. Consumer electronics already constitute 40% of lead found in landfills. About 70% of the heavy metals, including mercury and other hazardous substances found in electronics can contaminate groundwater and pose other environmental and public health risks."
----------------------------------------------------------------
Email list