The computer industry is encouraging its campaign against electronic waste, a hazardous offshoot of technology’s persistent growth. Last year, in the month of November, we were talking about the ‘e-waste mountain’ driven by the consumerism.
Well, the spacious recycling plant in the Sacramento suburbs of the Hewlett-Packard Co. is the place where the computers die a green death. Loads of archaic computers, servers and printers that are amassed from consumers and businesses are split open by workers who tow out batteries, circuit boards and other perilous components.
After that, these snippets are taken to the smelting plants where they are melted down for further reuse. Well, HP and Dell are already being appraised for the usage of eco-friendly modules and for the recycling of the discarded products.
We have already discussed about the perilous effects of the improper dumping of the electronic garbage. When these electronic goods are disposed off in an improper way, they release hazardous chemicals into the surroundings. It could pose danger to both the central and nervous system, lead to seizures, retardation, high blood pressure, harm the kidneys, liver, and badly affect the child development.
But, it’s good to see that more and more consumers are moving towards environmentally friendly products but on the other hand, e-waste is a mounting environmental apprehension since the companies are popping out electronic gizmos at a swift pace.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says American consumers generated nearly 2 million tons of electronic waste in 2005. Gartner estimates that 133,000 PCs are discarded by U.S. homes and businesses each day.
The improper dumping of 50-million tones of waste from discarded electronic commodities on annual basis is discharging harmful chemicals into the environment. The swiftly mounting consumerism is accounting for a ‘growing mountain of e-waste.’
Although, the campaign for recycling of electronic goods has caught the pace, but the need of the hour is to push strongly the recycling process and encouraging the companies to go for more and more eco-friendly products.
