Computers, like most other modern electronic devices, consist of numerous materials. The use of these materials is unavoidable in computers. When restricted to use inside your PC, these are safe and are required for the great performance that you desire. However, outside, these can be toxic and poisonous and highly dangerous to life. It is thus imperative that these highly toxic components not find their way into our system so we can be safe from them.
When you throw away your computer instead of recycling it, you are showing a way for these chemicals to enter into our food chains, directly or indirectly. Computers can contain lots of toxic chemicals like cadmium, lead, mercury and many other complex compounds that can have an adverse effect on the environment and health. Computer recycling is the only green way out that will help us contain the spread of these toxins.
If old computers are simply thrown away in the trash, they will be taken along with all the other garbage to the landfills where they will simply be dumped. As these chemicals don't really degrade, they will slowly enter into the environment. The first damage they do is to the land - these toxic chemicals seep into the land, rendering it useless to grow crops. However, this is just the beginning. These can be washed down to other areas through rain water and can easily seep into the ground, contaminating ground water. There are hundreds of toxins out there in your computer, so you can imagine the level of pollution they can cause. Once water and land are contaminated, these chemicals easily find their way into our food chains. Thus computer recycling is necessary in order to avoid such a catastrophic scenario.
Apart from direct pollution, there is also the issue of sustainability. A lot of energy goes into the manufacture of these components, right from extracting the materials from the earth's crust. All this work can be saved if we recycle e-waste. Thus by simple computer recycling, you can actually save tons of carbon dioxide from being emitted into the atmosphere and reduce your carbon footprint. The materials that are present in old computers are quite similar to the ones used in modern day computers. In addition, the old computers usually have higher quantities of these, and thus a great source of usable materials. This is also beneficial for the companies since they can spend less on the components, thus improving their bottom lines.
Though newer technologies come up every day, the materials that are used in these technologies remain mostly the same. The amount of such materials in old computers is even more compared to the newer ones. Thus throwing them away irresponsibly is a matter of concern. With better computers and computer related products emerging everyday and with people buying more and discarding their old ones, the problem of computer waste will further worsen. Thus consumers, companies and even the governments should realize this and encourage computer recycling. This would lie at the heart of our future sustainable growth and the kind of planet we leave behind for our children.
Rodd H. Glover is an avid outdoors-man who cares about the future of our generations. Computer recycling should be mandatory on all PC's as well as electronics recycling for everything with precious metals.
Orignal From: Recycling: The Future Is Now
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