Electronic waste, e-waste, e-scrap, or waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) describes discarded electrical or electronic devices. There is a lack of consensus as to whether the term should apply to resale, reuse, and refurbishing industries, or only to product that cannot be used for its intended purpose. Informal processing of electronic waste in developing countries may cause serious health and pollution problems, though these countries are also most likely to reuse and repair electronics.
All electronic scrap components, such as CRTs, may contain contaminants such as lead, cadmium, beryllium, or brominated flame retardants. Even in developed countries recycling and disposal of e-waste may involve significant risk to workers and communities and great care must be taken to avoid unsafe exposure in recycling operations and leaching of material such as heavy metals from landfills and incinerator ashes. Scrap industry and USA EPA officials agree that materials should be managed with caution.
Read more about Electronic Waste: Definitions, Amount of Electronic Waste World-wide, Global Trade Issues, Information Security, Electronic Waste Substances
Other articles related to "electronic waste, waste, electronic, electronics":
... Electronic waste, or e-waste, is the discarded remains of unwanted electronic goods and appliances, such as televisions, computers and cell phones ... It currently equals about 1% of the solid waste generated in developed countries ... However, it is also the fastest growing part of the municipal waste stream ...
... Aluminium nearly all electronic goods using more than a few watts of power (heatsinks), electrolytic capacitors ... Germanium 1950s–1960s transistorized electronics (bipolar junction transistors) ...
... Electronics companies are constantly coming out with new technologies, rendering old models obsolete ... From the mid-1990's until about 2001, it is estimated that some 50 to 80 percent of the electronics collected for recycling in the western half of the United ... Proper disposal and recycling of these electronics is difficult, labour-intensive, and therefore expensive ...
... instruction as part of health education for grades 7 through 12 AB 960 Electronic Waste, which would require electronic waste recyclers to take other electronic waste and devices in addition ...
... In 2011, China produced 2.3 million tons of electronic waste, second largest in the world ... Large amounts of electronic waste are imported from overseas, as well ... Disassembly and processing of electronic waste can create jobs and recycle valuable materials but also harm humans and the environment by releasing ...
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