How Dallas E-Waste Processing Centers Are Combating A Growing Problem

By Jocelyn Davidson


The ongoing evolution of personal electronic devices guarantees obsolescence. Even the most hyped new products routinely up in the attic with the old flip phones, portable CD players and boxy personal computers from the past, creating a significant disposal problem. Dallas e-waste processing helps consumers responsibly recycle the average twenty pounds of electronic garbage that each person generates yearly.

Toxic materials are an important part of computer-based technologies. Prior to the introduction of flat-screen displays, massively heavy cathode-ray tubes included barium, a poisonous metal also used in automobile and lighting manufacturing. Circuit boards commonly contain cadmium, potentially harmful to kidneys and bones. Mercury, chromium, and even lead are other lethal metal components, often framed in plastics resistant to decay or flame.

The public is well-informed about the need for recycling, but that awareness has had little impact on the growing presence of e-waste. It is common for manufacturing companies to have no officially expressed policy regarding ultimate disposal, and even environmentally progressive bodies such as the European Union can account for less than one quarter of the electronic garbage generated. United States figures go even lower, and much of that is exported for metal extraction.

In an ideal world, electronics makers would take full responsibility for recycling their own products, and that is becoming a reality in some cases. In Texas, computer and TV makers are now required by law to offer free recycling services for consumers, and must publicize those opportunities. While many major corporations willingly choose to participate, others say recycling is the responsibility of buyers, not makers.

Even the most environmentally-aware consumers may not be able to discover the real destination of their recyclables. A growing number of services provide free pickup, mass collection rallies or events are popular, and a growing number of charitable organizations solicit old equipment for re-purposing. Much of the material has traditionally ended up in poorer countries with their own e-waste issues, including worker exposure to toxins.

Once removed from local sites, there are few guarantees that this material will not become a part of a larger issue. Some poorer nations in Asia and Africa willingly accept shipments that provide economic opportunities for local people, even though there may be environmental penalties for doing so. In wealthier countries, creating a disposal program based on cost alone is not always a sustainable or wise choice.

Some electronics makers are seeking meaningful certification by local, independent environmental agencies. In many states there are already substantial fines for flaunting regulations, but no national laws uniformly regulate electronic waste processing. It has become extremely easy for people to have their old electronics taken away, but very hard to determine their final destination.

People residing in Austin increasingly choose a recycling company that is willing to openly explain how the disposal process works, and whether the material is being internationally transported. Some firms have adopted tracking systems that follow individual shipments closely, including the final destination. This not only helps control environmental pollution, but also offers better protections for workers involved in the recycling effort.




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