Why Are Discarded Electronics Potentially Harmful?
Electronic equipment contains metals and other materials that can become hazardous to human health and the environment if they are not properly managed. Cadmium — The largest source of cadmium in municipal waste is rechargeable nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries, commonly found in laptop computers. Lead — Monitors and televisions contain a picture tube known as a cathode ray tube (CRT). The CRTs contain leaded glass, and are the largest source of lead in municipal waste. Mercury — Electronic waste is a leading source of mercury in municipal waste. Additionally, discarded electronic equipment is a concern because electronics are made with valuable resources such as precious metals, engineered plastics, glass and other materials, all of which require energy to manufacture. When equipment is thrown away, these resources cannot be recovered and additional pollution will be generated to manufacture new products out of virgin materials.
