Electronic Equipment from Your Home - Ohio EPA

Fact SheetNumber HC7October 2007Electronic Equipment from YourHome... Don’t Just Throw it AwayElectronic equipment is used byalmost everyone. Advances intechnology result in newer equipmentcontinually becoming availablefor home use. Whether you arelooking at computers, monitors, faxmachines and copiers, televisionsets, stereo/audio equipment, cellphones, personal digital assistants(PDAs), or game consoles, therealways seems to be a newer orbetter model with new features.Hazardous or toxic materials in electronic equipmentBatteries - cadmium, lead, lithium, mercury, nickelElectronic waste, or e-waste, is oneof the fastest growing sources ofwaste in the United States. E-wasteoften has hazardous or toxic componentsthat pollute the environmentif they are improperly managed.Some of these components,such as heavy metals, are alsovaluable materials that can beextracted, recycled and reused tomake new equipment. As our oldelectronic equipment becomesoutdated, it is important that wethink carefully about reusing andrecycling materials, instead of justthrowing equipment in landfills.Casing/cables/wiring - antimony trioxide*, beryllium, chromium, cobalt,nickel, polybrominated flame retardants (PFRs)*, polyvinyl chloride(PVC)Display devices:Cathode ray tube (CRT) - antimony trioxide*, arsenic, barium,cadmium, lead, nickel, zincLiquid crystal display (LCD) - mercury in fluorescent lampOther displays, including light emitting diodes - arsenicPeripherals:Photocopier printer drums - cadmium, chromium, seleniumPrinter inks, toners - cadmiumPrinted circuit boards - antimony trioxide*, beryllium, cadmium, chromium,lead, mercury, nickel, PFRs*, selenium, zincWhat to do with your oldelectronic equipmentIf your old electronic equipment nolonger meets your needs, you havea number of options.1. Extend the life of yourexisting electronics throughrepair, upgrade or tune-up.Some electronics can be upgradedor may perform better through asimple tune-up. Check with a localelectronics or computer store to seeif your electronics can be configuredto more appropriately fit yourneeds. You can often improve theperformance of computers throughfile maintenance and removingunnecessary software. You mayalso be able to extend the life ofyour electronic equipment byupdating the components yourselfor asking a retailer to install newcomponents. Upgrades to existingelectronic equipment can add yearsof use. In the case of computers,even if an older model is not able tohandle the newest technology, it stillmay be perfectly adequate forsearching the Internet, word processing,using spreadsheets orotherwise meeting a student’sneeds.Integrated electronic components (Semiconductors, switches,condensers, controls, rectifiers, solder, transformers, etc.) - beryllium,cadmium, lead in solder, mercury, PFRs*, selenium* - flame retardantsOffice of Compliance Assistance & Pollution Prevention, 50 W. Town St., Suite 700, Columbus, Ohio 43215 (800) 329-7518www.epa.state.oh.us/ocapp

Electronic Equipment from Your Home... Don’t Just Throw it AwaySustainable electronicsWhen it is time to purchase a newelectronic device, the choices wemake can affect the environment.Some manufacturers consider theimpact their products have on theenvironment and actually maketheir products so that they areeasier to recycle, more energyefficient and, when disposed of,less harmful to the environment.Here are some examples.• The EPEAT (www.epeat.net)program identifies desktopcomputers, notebooks andmonitors that are designed tobe more environmentallyfriendly.• Energy Star(www.energystar.gov) productsare more energy efficientthan other similar products.2. Give the electronics tosomeone who can use itThere may be other people whocan use your old equipment orcollectors looking for replacementparts. When you are finished withyour old electronic equipment checkto see if friends, family or otherswant it. Several not-for-profitorganizations make used computersand cell phones available to thosein need. In some cases you may beable to sell your equipment. As astarting point, check out these sites.• Community lists, like Craig’s list(geo.craigslist.org/iso/us/oh).• Internet auction sites, like E-Bay.• Charitable groups (Computer andElectronic Non-Profit and CharityRefurbishers atwww.epa.state.oh.us/ocapp/recycle.html) may pick up yourused electronics at no cost.3. Recycle the electronicsIf you can not find anyone who isinterested in using your old electronicequipment, it is time torecycle it. Most electronics areaccepted for recycling includingbatteries, cell phones, computers,lamps and printer cartridges.These three resources may helpyou find a recycler.• “Plug into e-Cycling”(www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/conserve/plugin/index.htm) - apartnership between U.S. EPA ,consumer electronics manufacturersand retailers offering consumersopportunities to donate orrecycle their used electronics.• Earth911.org(www.earth911.org) - sponsoredby U.S. EPA and participatingorganizations lets you search forelectronic waste recyclers thatservice your zip code.Businesses have differentrequirements for recycling ordisposing of computers and otherelectronic equipment. For moreinformation, Ohio EPA’s factsheet, “Computer and ElectronicWaste Guidance,” is available atwww.epa.state.oh.us/dhwm/pdf/Electronic_Equipment_Guidance.pdf.• Ohio EPA maintains a list of“Computer and Electronic ComponentRecyclers atwww.epa.state.oh.us/ocapp/recycle.html.4. Properly dispose ofelectronic wastesElectronics contain many materialsthat are hazardous to the environmentwhen they are disposed. Ifyou cannot give away or recycleyour electronic equipment, OhioEPA recommends using communityhazardous waste collection days orretailer electronic waste collectionprograms. Ohio EPA maintains alist of local electronic waste andhousehold hazardous waste collectionprograms atwww.epa.state.oh.us/dsiwm/pages/recycpro.html. Also checkwith local businesses to determine ifthey are Plug into e-Cycling partnersand/or have any collectionprograms that suit your needs.Where can I get moreinformation?If you have any questions onmanaging your household electronicwaste, contact the Office ofCompliance Assistance and PollutionPrevention at (800) 329-7518or by e-mail atp2mail@epa.state.oh.us. Alsosee Ohio EPA’s electronic wasteWeb page, www.epa.state.oh.us/ocapp/p2/mercury_pbt/ewaste.html.2Ohio EPA is an Equal Opportunity Employer