While these are all examples of the mismanagement of electronic waste, there are many others that are taking care of it in a safe way. In 1991, the first electronic waste recycling system was implemented in Switzerland beginning with the collection of refrigerators and, over the years, all other electronic devices have been added to the system. Here in the USA, there have been two plans implemented to combat the amount of waste - recycle and reuse. The recycling is handled in ways that guarantee that all of the possible toxins are removed and disposed of while leaving the remaining pieces ready for reuse.
The reuse plan is very beneficial for both the sides of the donation. As of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, companies that donate computers less than two years old to schools will receive an enhanced charitable deduction benefit. A secondary part of the reuse plan is the groups that refurbish older model computers. These groups, like Free Geek, will take donated computers and sell them at a discount to people that can’t afford to pay full price for a current model or donate them to other non-profits through their grant program.
There are also many major retail companies that are coming forward to help. Along with their standard recycling bins, Whole Foods Market includes a bin for used batteries which keeps the spent battery acid from entering into the ecosystem in a landfill. Beginning on May 21st, 2007, the Staples chain of office supply stores began their own electronic waste disposal plan. They will recycle any manufacturer’s products, regardless of whether or not it was purchased from Staples, with no limit on the quantity of equipment to be handled. By bringing a service like this to their customers, Staples gives a large portion of the country the ability to dispose of their used electronic equipment in a responsible manner.
Recycle and reuse plans are helping but we need to take responsibility in our own lives. Reducing the amount of electronic waste in our landfills will lead to less toxic chemicals in the air and ground. Reuse plans have found new ways to supply individuals and institutions with the equipment they need to help improve their place in the world. The benefits of correct disposal of electronic waste products greatly outweigh any perceived hardships and will be felt by both the people of today and the planet of tomorrow.
