Disposal of Electronic EquipmentSome Unpleasant Facts
Toxins
Electronic products contain deadly toxins such as mercury, barium, lead, chromium, cadmium, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and dioxins.
E-waste that is dumped in landfills or is recycled without care, risks the leaching of heavy metals into the ground water and soil. Burning E-waste produces lethal fumes that contaminate the air.
Workers inhale acid fumes, chlorine, and sulphur dioxide gas. Waste products such as lead, mercury, and PCBs are dumped in waterways, fields, and open trenches, or are vaporised after being burnt in the open air. The consequences include serious health problems such as breathing difficulties, leukaemia, and undrinkable, poison-laden water. Soil and drinking water often contains lead and other heavy metal concentrations 190 times higher than safe levels.
By definition, IT hardware manufacturers have a vested interest in encouraging the disposal of current and older items of equipment, and replacing it with the very latest models of technology. Despite the claims of manufacturers sales teams to the contrary, the network performance improvements gained by purchasing the "latest and greatest" technology products is often minimal, and is always accompanied by a hefty financial cost
Saving Money while Protecting the EnvironmentFortunately, there are a number of steps that equipment users can take to preserve both their IT budgets and the environment. Many companies have already taken these steps, and even though they may not be motivated by environmental principles, they have reaped sizeable financial savings and benefits without any loss of network performance or reliability.
Action Plan- Upgrade rather than Replace IT infrastructure
- Repair faulty electronic equipment instead of replacing
- Purchase Tested & Warranted Refurbished Hardware.
- Many of the largest house-hold name companies operate older equipment which performs perfectly well and reliably.
- If your current installation fulfils your network requirements, don't be tempted to unnecessarily change to the very "latest & greatest" manufacturer´s products. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".
- Remarket unwanted IT hardware for re-use rather than disposal. Many well known organisations have learned the financial benefits of using Refurbished Hardware.
- Recycle unusable IT equipment responsibly.
- Aim to save money on your IT hardware - it is usually turns out to be good for the environment as well!
