Potential of Recycling E-Waste in America TodayA typical computer monitor contains an average of 4 pounds of lead. If we calculate 4 pounds of lead per monitor for an estimated 500 million computer systems that became obsolete between 1998 and 2007, it equals a total of 2,000,000,000 lbs. of lead.
2,000,000,000 lbs. of lead that could potentially have been reclaimed between 1998 and 2007. We may extrapolate that less than 15% of this amount was recovered.
Stats from NRC and EPA
What is the Environmental Toll of Not Reclaiming E-Metals?
1. The release of toxins into water and soil from unreclaimed metals in land fills; many of which have leaky or end of life containers.
2. The destruction of landscape in mining raw materials, a portion of which could have been reclaimed.
3. The release of toxins into air, water and land from by products and chemicals used to extract metals.
4. The release of toxins into air from incinerating e-waste.
In 2001, only 11% of personal computers retired in the US were recycled; some were reused but many remained in people’s garages, closets and storage facilities.
~Recycling Alliance of Texas, Phases of E-Cycling Seminar
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