Toxicity and sheer volume make electronic waste a rapidly growing environmental hazard. Obsolete computers and other kinds of e-waste are piling up everywhere, creating what some experts predict will be the largest toxic waste problem of the 21st century.

• The average American discards one computer every three to five years.
• There are over four pounds of lead oxide, a highly toxic hazardous waste, in each computer and television monitor.
• Electronics contribute up to 70% of the toxins found in landfills.
• There are at least 4.4 million computers and 8 million televisions in Georgia  households. With an average weight of 54 pounds, this will eventually become 334,800 tons of e-waste that will end up in landfills.
• Many computer plastics and some circuit boards contain brominated flame retardants (BFR’s), several of which are suspected to bioaccumlate in animal and fish tissue. A recent study found very high levels of BFR’s in the blubber of Harbor Seals as well as in the breast milk of nursing mothers in the California bay area.
• Over 4 billion pounds of e-waste are laid to rest in U.S. landfills each year.

When e-waste is not recycled, it is usually incinerated or tossed into landfills, releasing toxic pollutants into the air, soil, and water, endangering human health and the environment.  When e-waste is exported to other countries, it is often mishandled, causing severe health problems for the environment and the public.  The solution is responsible recycling.

• About 42% of overall solid waste is recycled, including 70% of major appliances.  However, only 5% to 15% of computers are recycled.
• Electronics are made with valuable materials. In 1998, over 112 million pounds of materials were recovered from electronics, including steel, glass, plastic, and precious metals.

The next time you have electronics to dispose of, take them to an authorized electronic recycling facility.  Some computer companies, such as Apple, will recycle your obsolete computer for free when you purchase a new one.  There are also many e-recycling events in the Atlanta area.

To find an electronics recycling center in your area, type in the item and your zip code at Earth 911 or refer to the GA Office of Environmental Management brochure.