If you’re reading this post, then you have, or at least use, a computer. It’s also likely that it’s not the first computer you’ve ever used, nor will it be the last. While most people understand the waste and recycling of cardboard and plastic bottles, most people overlook the massive amount of electrical and electronic waste we produce. There’s a special quality about this waste that makes it different - generally speaking, it’s toxic. All those circuit boards and cathode ray tubes and the like contain chemicals that are harmful. I’m not talking about the more general ‘harmful to the planet’ type of thing - it’s much more direct in many circumstances. These things can end up in the developing world where they’re thrown on bonfires, or dumped in rivers. The chemicals go on to pollute and harm the local population. Not great.
So what do you do about it? Eventually, we buy a new computer, ipod, dvd player, tv. There’s bunch of reasons why that might happen. Sometimes the old one can be re-used - either sold or given away. That’s a pretty good thing for it, since electrical devices are generally quite complex things. But some things do need to be ‘junked’ in some way. Often, companies are keen to do this for old computers because they want to be able to control what happens to the data on their hard drives. A few years ago, the WEEE directive (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) was introduced in Europe. It only came into law in the UK in January 2007. The directive sets out obligations on manufacturers, retailers and even business users, to manage their waste equipment. It’s supposed to mean that retailers and manufacturers have to put in place a way for consumers to return their products to be properly disposed of. Of course, what that means in practice is not 100% clear. WEEE is supposed to stop waste being sent overseas for disposal, but it’s ok to send it there for treatment. Quoting from the Environment Agency:
“Exporting any waste for disposal is prohibited. The export of WEEE for recovery is permitted but is controlled by the Waste Shipments Regulations. These controls depend on the classification of the waste and the destination country. Many waste types require formal notification BEFORE the waste is allowed to leave the UK.”
Unfortunately, things aren’t as perfect as we want them to be. Here’s a report from the US. We can hope that the WEEE legislation is helping to prevent similar occurrences, but that would be hopeful. There’s evidence to suggest that we’re getting round WEEE by labeling waste for re-use and exporting it overseas (where it’s not recycled according to the best practice that WEEE is supposed to encourage).
