Electronic Waste
Quick facts about e-waste
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Each year more than 1.6 million computers are sent to landfill around
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Electronic waste is growing at three times the rate of general rubbish
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On-top of the 1.6 million computers going to landfill, another estimated 7 million are sitting in the back of cupboards and garages.
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The average citizen will dispose of approximately 3.3 tonnes of electronic waste in their life-time.
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There is enough e-waste in the world today to fill enough 40ft shipping containers to circle the globe.
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To manufacture one PC and one monitor uses the same amount of fossil fuels, chemicals and water that it takes to manufacture a mid-sized car (22kg of chemicals, 1,500 of water and 240kg of fossil fuels).
What is e-waste?
Electronic waste is various types of electrical and electronic waste which have ceased to be of any value to their owners, including all components, sub assemblies and consumables which are part of the product at the time of discarding.
Common electronic waste items include:
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Computers
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Printers
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Scanners
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Fax machines
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TVs
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Video and DVD players
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Stereo equipment
Why is e-waste a problem?
The difficulty with electronic waste is that they are made from a huge range of component materials that are useless for further manufacture until the product is dismantled and the component materials are separated - often a very difficult and expensive process.
Computers and other electronic equipment are made from hundreds of different materials. Many of these materials are inherently valuable, such as gold and platinum, and many are non-renewable. If they can be extracted they can be reused in manufacture again as a 'secondary' raw material.
Electronic waste can also contain heavy metals including lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic. When disposed of they can leach from landfills into the water table. Brominated-flame retardants used in computer equipment are both an occupational and environmental health threat. Printer inks and toners often contain toxic materials such as carbon black and cadmium.
Where can you recycle e-waste?
E-waste bin at the Red Hill Waste Management Facility
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EMRC operates a dry-cell battery collection program – click here for drop-off locations.
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Most mobile phone retailers will take old handsets for recycling.
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Red Hill Waste Management Facility* –
* Note: a disposal charge will apply.
Other computer recycling locations (recycling fees may apply - please check first):
- Dell Computer Recycling: 1800 465 890
- Collins Recycling Depot: (08) 9457 3973, 16 Kembla Way, Willetton
- Secure Computer Recycling & Disposal: (08) 9467 4624
- Sims E-Recycling: 9236 3001, Unit C3-174 Barrington St, Spearwood or visit www.apac.simsrecycling.com
- Students without Borders: (08) 9360 6307 (min 17" monitors & model year after 2000)
- TADWA (Technical Assistance to the Disabled WA): (08) 9379 7400, 371 Collier Rd, Bassendean
What are we doing to find a solution?
The EMRC has been working with the SMRC (Southern Metropolitan Regional Council) on a study aimed at developing a pilot program for the successful collection and recycling of electronic waste (e-waste) in the
The two regional councils were jointly awarded a grant of $35,520 for the study from the Waste Management Board, under its Strategic Waste Initiatives Scheme program. The study looked at existing interstate and international e-waste collection models that could be applied in
The study hopes to guide the establishment of a pilot e-waste collection and recycling program which will then be coordinated by all five regional councils in the metropolitan area. A coordinated metropolitan wide approach will bring economies of scale to a significant logistical problem.
The aim of comisstioning this in-depth study before leaping into action is to plan and implement a recycling pathway that has positive economic benefits for the regional councils, positive social benefits for residents, and little impact on the environment.
Electronic Waste Factsheet - August 2008.pdf (430.84 kb)
Reference No: EMRC-83980
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