Newport Daily Press: Obsolete Electronics Don’t Just Fade Away—and That’s Our Problem
Filed under: Earth 911 - August 17, 2008
TVs, computers, cell phones, personal GPS systems. They are all around us, constantly changing the ways we communicate and disseminate information.
But what do you do with your latest gadget when it becomes obsolete, so-called e-junk?
For Hampton Roads residents, the answer isn’t so clear. One option is to simply leave it on the curb.
But in a time when environmental awareness is at its peak, recycling and reuse are considered far more socially responsible. The problem with sending e-junk to the landfill is that many of our favorite devices contain harmful metals and chemicals that could leak into the ground or groundwater.
The greatest concern is over lead, mercury, brominated flame retardants and cadmium used for important performance characteristics.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average TV and computer monitor contains four pounds of lead in their cathode ray tube.
Have a flat screen or flat panel? The bulbs that light up the screen contain mercury.
Because of the significant cost of safely transporting and breaking down toxic chemicals and metals, most area waste management facilities don’t offer recycling services.
“It is a big looming elephant in the room, but to date, there is not recycling service for TVs,” said Laurel Halperin, recycling and beatification coordinator for York County.
New Kent County is one local government offering a regular, daily recycling option for TVs. Residents might be required to show proof of residency. Having either a New Kent decal or a letter of authorization from the New Kent County administrative building will suffice.
Residents can drop off one TV or monitor a day free of charge at the main New Kent refuse site on Olivet Church Road between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. The equipment should be placed in the 20-foot container provided.
From there, the equipment will be shipped to a New Jersey plant certified to recycle consumer electronics.
Other localities have specific drop-off dates when residents can bring computer monitors and accessories that coincide with household chemical drop-off dates:
- The next available date for Williamsburg and James City County is Oct. 11 in the James City Service Authority parking lot.
- Two dates are scheduled for York County: Sept. 13 and Nov. 8 on County Drive in Yorktown.
- In Hampton, this year’s remaining dates are Sept. 20 and Nov. 15 at the Public Works Operation Complex. Residents might be required to show proof of residency.
- Newport News holds quarterly collections of household hazardous waste and electronics from March through November. For more information, call 1-757-269-2850 or 1-757-269-2873.
The EPA reported that in 2005, about two million tons of e-junk was thrown out. Of that, about 80 percent to 85 percent was discarded in landfill—leaving roughly 380,000 tons to be recycled.
Learn More About Recycling
- For more information on recycling in your area, check out the Virginia Peninsulas Public Service Authority’s Web site at www.vppsa.org.
- For information related to the environmental impacts of recycling a good place to start is www.earth911.org.
- New Kent County residents interested in recycling their e-waste should call the New Kent County General Services Department at 1-804-966-8502.