Why is Monitor Recycling Necessary?
The importance of monitor recycling has become readily apparent, as more and more aging electronics are thrown away and replaced each year. The advent of flat screen televisions and computer monitors may eventually lessen the need for monitor recycling. Older monitors usually consist of a thick glass screen in front of a cathode ray tube (CRT). The glass and the CRT put together can contain up to eight pounds of lead, depending on the size of the monitor. When materials containing lead are disposed of in landfills, the lead can leach out into the soil and groundwater, potentially posing health risks to humans. Lead is not the only hazardous material present in electronic equipment. Mercury, cadmium, and flame-retardant chemicals are all present. These chemicals pose a particular health hazard to humans, because they are bioaccumulative. This means that they build up in our bodies as opposed to being filtered out. Heavy metals such as lead and mercury are known to be linked to birth def
