One of the more negative elements in the modern world is the emergence of electronic waste, also referred to as “E-waste.” To gain an initial understanding of the problem, it’s useful to consider its definition.
According to the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC)” Electronic waste, or “E-waste” refers to any unwanted electronic device or Cathode Ray Tube (CRT), and in California, E-waste is considered a universal waste which is a type of hazardous waste. E-waste frequently contains hazardous materials, predominantly lead and mercury, and is produced by households, businesses, governments, and industries.
Soil or landfill-based dumping of non-biodegradable elements like E-waste is particularly problematic because this type of waste tends to expose electronic sub-components that can create further hazards.
Statista suggests there are 6.5 billion smartphone subscriptions in operation as of 2022, with follow-on projections suggesting that 8 billion devices will go active by 2028.
Understanding E-waste
Landfills are essentially created by layers of clay separated by plastic sheets. Trash and/or garbage is placed on these clay and plastic bases. Other similarly separated layers are stacked on each other up to a maximum height, finalizing a completed “pile,” also sometimes referred to as a “tip.”
Understanding the differences between trash and garbage in a landfill is important since each type of refuse develops its own mini ecosystem as it breaks down. Garbage is largely classified as organic, which means biodegradation is naturally triggered. Trash, however, doesn’t largely involve organic elements, making biodegradation difficult, if it is triggered at all.
As discarded electronic devices lie in moisture-laden landfills, plastics begin to soften, crack, and expose internal components. These components include silicon, metal, and other chemically derived sub-products.
As these sub-products “ferment” in the landfill, toxic gasses and secondary chemicals, including arsenic, mercury, lead, and other heavy metals, can be released or leached from the soil. These gasses and chemicals can ultimately appear in naturally occurring water tables, public water treatment systems, and other environmental centers where E-waste could create negative health effects, particularly involving the nervous system.
E-waste Management Practices
Today’s best practices for proper electronic waste disposal typically involve two action steps:
- Electronic device refurbishment
- Electronic device recycling
When it comes to device refurbishment, reworking and reselling obsolete electronic devices extend the life cycles of products while avoiding disposal, which supports responsible environmental management.
In the second instance, waste management electronics recycling utilizes the step-by-step destruction of original electronic products to create secondary raw materials, then reuse them to create entirely new products. This effort avoids disposal while ensuring support for responsible E-waste management.
E-waste Laws and Regulations
Current federal laws and regulatory components associated with E-waste management are largely based on the 1976 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). All domestic device wholesalers operate under RCRA’s overarching standards when refurbishment and/or recycling of pre-owned products is involved.
Within the EPA, the Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery (ORCR) manages the RCRA. While the RCRA is a federal standard, state governments have their own laws on E-waste management. Twenty-five states mandate E-waste recycling, while fifteen states ban landfill E-waste.
In the case of wholesale firms refurbishing and reselling pre-owned electronic products, several organizations have relevant guidelines for handling E-waste:
- Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). This organization involves itself in various producer-related guidelines specifically relating to extended producer responsibilities (EPR).
- Waste Electrical Electronic Equipment (WEEE). This organization also legislates and sets guidelines that drive environmental management and E-waste mitigation.
Compliance Requirements and Responsibilities
In the case of wholesale firms doing refurbishment and resale of pre-owned electronic products, applied RCRA standards are specific. Standards include:
- Documentation: Wholesalers must maintain records regarding any component that may pose a hazard, including major and secondary components.
- Testing and repair: Wholesalers typically test devices before resale. RCRA requirements exist as safety guideposts, particularly when the disposal of failed components is involved.
- Waste management: If one or more components require disposal, RCRA guidelines define the proper disposal process.
- Storage and/or handling: During refurbishment, wholesalers recycle some sub-components for use in future product refurbishments. RCRA rules stipulate how wholesalers should store and handle these elements to meet all safety requirements.
Various operating guidelines have emerged in parallel with other domestic and international standards, largely derived by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), i.e., WEEE/OECD.
Under these guidelines, manufacturers are required to collect, store, sort, transport, treat, prepare for reuse, actively recycle, and execute the final disposal of E-waste, including digital technologies and particularly smartphone devices.
Conclusion
Effective E-waste mitigation takes everyone, not just industrial segments. Proper E-waste management is complex, but regulations and standards are evolving as we learn more about the environmental impact.
