eCycling.com

Broken and old computers are a valuable source for the secondary market for raw materials including precious metals. If these computers are not disposed properly, the environment could suffer the effects of dangerous carcinogens and toxins. With technology changing rapidly as fast as every 6 months, computers and cell phones are often discarded by improper disposal methods. Perhaps retail store and manufacturer awareness is just not there. Maybe if the consumers are told about the harmful toxins inside the devices they buy, they would be more incline to find an electronic recycler. Here are 3 of the more common hazardous materials that can be found in most common electrical IT devices.

Lead

Mercury

• 65% from stationary combustion, of which coal-fired power plants are the largest aggregate source (40% of U.S. mercury emissions in 1999). This includes power plants fueled with gas where the mercury has not been removed. Emissions from coal combustion are between one and two orders of magnitude higher than emissions from oil combustion, depending on the country.
• 11% from gold production. The three largest point sources for mercury emissions in the U.S. are the three largest gold mines.
• 6.8% from non-ferrous metal production, typically smelters.
• 6.4% from cement production.
• 3.0% from waste disposal, including municipal and hazardous waste, crematoria, and sewage sludge incineration. This is a significant underestimate due to limited information, and is likely to be off by a factor of two to five.
• 3.0% from caustic soda production.
• 1.4% from pig iron and steel production.
• 1.1% from mercury production, mainly for batteries.
• 2.0% from other sources.

Cadmium