E-waste and recycling
From TheStudentWiki
Green issues and computing
The topic of green issues and computing is a complex one which can be divided into many areas These are; • Recycling • E waste • Health and safety issues • Green batteries • Environment • Hardware
We feel the most important issue is recycling and e waste.
Recycling – Seek IT Ltd is a specialist company that deals with the removal and disposal of electrical equipment. It provides a full range of computer recycling services for organisations that wish to dispose of IT and office equipment. SITR – Secure IT Recycling, allows almost every item of a computer to be recycled in the most environmentally friendly and cost effective way. The biggest problem facing the smaller recycling companies is that the price of new computer systems has decreased so therefore making older computer systems less desirable. E Waste – Electronic Waste, E-waste is thought to be the fastest growing part of municipal waste in the developed world. The decreasing cost of replacing computers, mobile phones and other electronic gadgets, and the speed with which technology goes out of date, mean there is more and more to be disposed of.
E-waste -Larger companies must obey WEEE(waste electrical and electronic equipment) companies that dispose of more than 200kg ( or equivalent to 15 CRT monitors) they have a legal obligation to make sure that the electronic equipment is disposed of properly. E- Waste differs from other discarded materials like paper, aluminium and glass that enter the waste stream in a number of significant ways. These differences shape the E-waste problem. E-waste contains materials that are both valuable and toxic. The products that make up ewaste are generally still working and useable, their values have been depreciated by the advent of “better technology”. It has been said that the poor have less knowledge of the danger of e waste this is also most commonly known as “E Waste divide” they lack the knowledge and resources to cut down and they are likely to be burdened with the ewaste discarded from wealthier nations. The ways in which you can prevent ewaste are;
Reduce – There are a number of ways to reduce your need to buy new computers. Make sure your computer keeps up a good level of maintenance to extend the life of the machine. Upgrade your software/hardware on your computer rather than buying a whole new system. If buying a new computer is essential then make sure it is a “green computer”.
Reuse – Buy a used computer and upgrade that to make it inline with newer machines instead of buying a new computer.
View for the future - Manufactures can reduce the number rapidly by producing computers which are green and they can make themselves responsible for recycling their own brand of machines. Government’s can also help by introducing laws regarding the disposal of hazardous waste.
by Rachel Waters, David Pearson, Andrea Hawkins, Craig Wilkinson, Adam Conlan, Douglas Nelson.
