ECycle (Recycling)
The term e-cycling refers to the process of recycling the components or metals contained in used or discarded electronic equipment, otherwise known as electronic waste (e-waste). As an example, groundwater has become so polluted in areas surrounding China’s landfills that water must be shipped in from 18 miles away. The critics of e-cycling are just as vocal as its advocates.According to the Reason Foundation, e-cycling will only raise the product and waste management costs of e-waste for consumers and limit innovation on the part of high-tech companies. A hefty criticism often lobbed at common recyclers is that people think that they are recycling their electronic waste, when in reality it is actually being exported to developing countries such as China, India, and Nigeria. Another longer-term solution is for computers to be composed of less dangerous products. These communities can connect with each other by means of various websites. .
In this program, a directive forces manufacturers to take responsibility for e-cycling; it also demands manufacturers mandatory take-back and places bans on exporting e-waste to developing countries. It has been estimated that 90% of e-waste is not being recycled as promised. Currently, pieces of government legislation and a number of grassroots efforts have contributed to the growth of e-cycling.
should be following the European Union model in regards to its management of e-waste. It requires that consumers pay an extra fee for certain types of electronics, and the collected money is then redistributed to recycling companies that are qualified to properly recycle these products. As of September, 2006, Dell developed the nation’s first completely-free recycling program, Another step being taken is the recyclers’ pledge of true stewardship, sponsored by the Computer TakeBack Campaign.
It has been signed by numerous recyclers promising to recycle responsibly. The Electronic Waste Recycling Act was passed in California in 2003.
This stance can be traced to the fact that much of e-waste is dumped in developing countries, and people disagree with the environmental and human health hazards that this presents. Grassroots efforts have also played a big part in this issue, as they and other community organizations are being formed to help responsibly recycle e-waste.
E-cyclable items include, but are not limited to: televisions, computers, microwave ovens, vacuum cleaners, telephones and cellular phones, stereos, and VCRs and DVDs. Other grassroots campaigns are Basel, the Computer TakeBack Campaign (co-coordinated by the Grassroots Recycling Network), and the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition. Many people believe that the U.S.
The need for e-cycling facilities has been increasing recently due to technology’s rapid rate of obsolescence. Some people support e-cycling for ethical reasons.
