The fastest growing category of waste in Massachusetts is made up of unwanted consumer electronics - cell and smart phones, computers and monitors, televisions, DVD and MP3 players, pagers, PDAs and other devices.
The National Recycling Coalition predicted that 500 million computers were obsolete by 2007. In Massachusetts alone, 25,000 tons of computers are being disposed, recycled, or placed in storage per year. Until recently, people in MA were discarding more than 900,000 units annually on average, but that number has increased due to the federally-mandated transition to digital television broadcasting. (Note that if you own an analog TV, there is no need to replace it right away, you can extend its useful life by purchasing a digital converter box).
CRT monitors and TVs contain an average of 4 pounds of lead each. Excessive lead and other toxins pose a problem in landfills because they can leach into groundwater. In combustors, the lead winds up in the ash residue, which is in turn disposed of in landfills. Lead exposure has been linked with learning disabilities, behavioral problems and at very high levels, seizures, coma and even death. CRTs have been banned from Massachusetts solid waste disposal and transfer facilities since April 2000.
When you have unwanted electronics to discard, remember that still useful items can be donated to others. Non-working electronics should be recycled to prevent health and environmental risks. Often, your computer will be reused by a charity or school. Or, it may be taken apart and recycled. The different parts of the computer or television are used in many different ways:
- The glass CRT is either returned to a manufacturer and made into a new CRT, or sent to a smelter where the lead is recovered and recycled
- The plastic housing is ground to smaller pieces and recycled for use in various items such as retaining blocks and pothole mix
- Circuit boards, chips, and other parts can be reused to repair or upgrade older electronics or recycled for their scrap value
- Metal components will be separated and sold for their scrap value
For a detailed list of recycling options in your county please visit the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection website: www.mass.gov/dep/
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