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Transcript of E waste nz
E-Waste
www.transend.co.nz | 0800 84 22 53 | [email protected]
Colton, Copper, Aluminium, Lead, Gold, Zinc, Nickel, Tin, Silver, Iron, Platinum, Palladium, Mercury, Cobalt, Antimony, Arsenic, Barium, Beryllium, Cadmium, Chromium, Selenium, Polyvinyl Chloride, Hexavalent Chromium, Brominated Flame Retardants, and Gallium
The ingredients of a typical
desktop, laptop or monitor
www.transend.co.nz | 0800 84 22 53 | [email protected]
E-Waste = Toxic Waste
www.transend.co.nz | 0800 84 22 53 | [email protected]
Material Main applications in computer production
Plastics including PVC
Cabling, computer housings
Lead Soldering of printed circuit boards and other components; glass panels in CRT monitors
Barium Vacuum tubes in CRT monitors
Beryllium Used for thermal conductivity
Cadmium SMD chip resistors, infrared detectors, semiconductors,older models of CRTs; also used as plastic stabilizer
Hexavalent Chromium
Mostly phased out, but still some limited use as corrosion protector and decorative or hardener for steel housings
www.transend.co.nz | 0800 84 22 53 | [email protected]
Materials Main application in computer productionSelenium Used in rectifiers and printed wiring boardsMercury Sensors and switches on printed circuit boards,
batteries, switches/housing, printed wiring boards, tubes in flat panel Screens
Arsenic Doping’ agents in transistors and printed wiring boards
PCBs (Polychlorinatedbiphenyls)
Used in capacitors and transformers (older equipmentonly)
www.transend.co.nz | 0800 84 22 53 | [email protected]
• Beryllium – Human carcinogen – cancer causing. Lung cancer and skin disease
• Hexavalent Chromium – Highly toxic material which can pass easily through cell membranes; causes strong allergic reaction (asthmatic, bronchitis) even in small concentrations. May also cause DNA damage
• Brominated flame retardants – Cause Thyroid Damage and harm fetal development
Environmental & Health Impacts
www.transend.co.nz | 0800 84 22 53 | [email protected]
Barium – Brain swelling, muscle weakness, damage to the heart, liver and spleenSelenium – Causes Selenosis, which symptoms are hair loss, nail brittleness and neurological abnormalities PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls) – PCBs affect the immune, hormone, nervous, and enzyme systems of the body and therefore have impacts on almost every organ. PCBs are considered by health agencies as a known carcinogen for animals and a probable carcinogen for humans
www.transend.co.nz | 0800 84 22 53 | [email protected]
• Lead – Damage to nervous system, blood. A neurotoxin. It also harms the kidneys and reproductive system. Even low-level lead exposure can impair a child’s mental development.
• Cadmium – Acute and Chronic toxic compound which accumulates in human body, esp. In kidneys. Can be absorbed either through respiration or ingested through food.
• Plastics (PVC) – Various cancers, endocrine system disruption. If burnt, releases highly toxic dioxins
www.transend.co.nz | 0800 84 22 53 | [email protected]
• Mercury – Causes Chronic brain damage. Easily accumulates in living organisms, esp. Fish. Also linked to Kidney damage and harmful to a developing fetus. It can be passed through breast milk. Inorganic mercury is transformed into methylated mercury when introduced into natural water systems, where it concentrates in sediment.
• Arsenic – Various diseases of the skin and decrease nerve conduction velocity. Can also cause lung cancer and can often be fatal.
www.transend.co.nz | 0800 84 22 53 | [email protected]
50 million tonnes of E-waste a year worldwide
Still over 85% unsafe disposal or landfill
A Global Problem
www.transend.co.nz | 0800 84 22 53 | [email protected]
www.transend.co.nz | 0800 84 22 53 | [email protected]
New Zealand- In NZ, 2006 - 96,000 Tonnes of e-
waste sent to landfill- No Laws in NZ preventing e-waste to
landfill- Precious Metals Wasted: gold, silver,
platinum, copper
www.transend.co.nz | 0800 84 22 53 | [email protected]
• Estimated NZ stock 16 million units (10 million CRT’s) that will become end of life & enter waste stream
• In 2005, 830,000 new televisions and computers were sold in NZ
• Total lead that may reach the waste stream = 13,540 tonnes
New Zealand
www.transend.co.nz | 0800 84 22 53 | [email protected]
Do we want to be remembered as the
generation that destroyed the environment for our
descendants?
www.transend.co.nz | 0800 84 22 53 | [email protected]
• EU WEEE - Waste and Electronic Equipment Directive
• EU RoHS – Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive
• Basel Convention
Global Legislation – What’s been done about it?
www.transend.co.nz | 0800 84 22 53 | [email protected]
www.transend.co.nz | 0800 84 22 53 | [email protected]
• NZ needs to develop own “in-country” capability to deal with E-Waste• Strict adherence to Basel Permits needs to be followed and policed• NZ should hurry up and introduce producer responsibility laws
What does NZ need to do?
www.transend.co.nz | 0800 84 22 53 | [email protected]
What should consumers do?
• Buy RoHS compliant equipment • Storage (Keep it in your garage for now)• Wait for E-Day 2010 (If it happens!)
• Drop-off at recycling centre and be willing to pay for proper recycling – about $30 per computer
“Never send to Landfill and start asking your recycling
company for proof of environmentally sound
destruction”