space Press Releases, News Stories

By Bethany Halford, Post-Dispatch

August 3, 2002 -- The glass in a computer or television screen contains 4 to 8 pounds of lead, and recycling often creates new problems at the waste's final destination.

As technology races forward, it leaves a trail of toxic debris.

The National Safety Council estimates that from 1997 to 2004, about 315 million computers will become obsolete. And as the "antique" computers, televisions and cell phones pile up, it is becoming increasingly clear that no one is certain what to do with it all.

Most Americans harbor what could one day become hazardous waste - abandoned in basements, crammed into closets, tucked away in cluttered corners.

The glass of a cathode ray tube in a computer or television screen contains 4 to 8 pounds of lead. Other electronics hold hazardous metals such as cadmium, beryllium, mercury and brominated flame retardants. Discarded and left to fester in landfills, these substances leach into the land and can pollute the air and water.

Crammed into a hallway-length cage at the Salvation Army's donation center at 3949 Forest Park Boulevard, computers sit in piles three or four high. Although they work perfectly, about 70 percent of these technological dinosaurs - anything older than a Pentium I or II - will be thrown away.

Tim Sunderland, assistant administrator at the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center, estimates that during the peak season - spring to late autumn - hazardous refuse removal costs the Salvation Army $2,500 to $3,000 a week.

"It does put a financial burden on us," he said. "That Dumpster bill is just phenomenal."

Not wanting to alienate donors or lose potential diamonds in the rough, the Salvation Army won't turn away donations of working electronics.

"I really think their intentions are good," said Sunderland. "In their minds, it's a win-win situation."

In an attempt to do the green thing, many consumers turn to electronics recycling or e-cycling. Today, eager e-cyclers can bring their unwanted computers, TVs, cell phones and other small appliances to the parking lot at Best Buy in Ellisville, 15678 Manchester Road. Like most e-cyclers, Best Buy charges $10 to $15 to take computers and TVs. The charge offsets the cost of processing the leaded glass.

The popular program collected 242,000 pounds of electronic equipment in 2002, said Best Buy spokesman Jim McManus. Shiny-headed pop star Moby has been plugging the program. Best Buy's event ends after today, but McManus said the company hoped St. Louisans would seek out local electronics recycling programs in the future.

Once rounded up from consumers, where does all this stuff go? The Basel Action Network, a global network of organizations opposing toxic waste trade, discovered that much of the e-junk is shipped overseas to poor Asian nations such as China, India, Pakistan and Vietnam. There, a cheap labor force disassembles the components in unsafe conditions.

Best Buy's recycler for the St. Louis event - Envirocycle Inc. of Hallstead, Pa. - does not export the goods it collects. But BAN reported that 50 to 80 percent of Americans' recycled e-material gets sent to places like Guiyu, China.

Jim Puckett, BAN's coordinator, traveled to the Guiyu region, northeast of Hong Kong, where he witnessed about 100,000 poor Chinese laborers toiling in toxic fields of electronic fodder. The workers wore nothing to protect their eyes or skin as they smashed lead-laden televisions. The laborers burned circuit boards over open fires with nothing to protect them from the dangerous fumes.

"The open burning, acid baths and toxic dumping pour pollution into the land, air and water and expose men, women and children of Asia's poorer peoples to poison," stated BAN's report on Guiyu, "Exporting Harm: The Techno-Trashing of Asia."

The European Union has banned the export of e-waste, but the United States permits it. Puckett said that even though China banned receiving the hazardous material, most U.S. electronic recyclers openly flout Chinese law by shipping used electronics to be disassembled there.

"The Beijing government has a real problem on their hands," said Puckett.

The nation's extensive coastline and numerous corrupt officials make cracking down on the operations difficult.

Electronics recycling

Here are some electronics recycling outlets. Contact each place to find out what they accept and what charges may apply. The ultimate destination of electronics sent to these locations has not been researched. Locally

* Gunther Electronics: 314-367-9933

* Laclede Computer Trading (computers only): 314-644-5888

* The Mac Store - working Macs only: 314-692-8900

* Program System 4U - Pentium 166 mHz or better computers only: 314-524-5039

* United Hebrew Congregation Community Action Committee - cell phones only: 314-434-3404

* Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corp. - all types of rechargeable batteries: 1-800-822-8837/www.rbrc.com Nationally\

* Compaq PC Recycling Program: www.unitedrecycling.com/takeback/main.html * Dell Trade-Ups: www.dell. tradeups.com

* Electronics Industries Alliance Consumer Education Initiative: www.eiae.org

* Gateway Trade-In Program: www.gateway.com

* Hewlett-Packard: www.hp.com/go/recycle

LOCAL\Reporter Bethany Halford:\ E-mail: bhalford@post-dispatch.com\ Phone: 314-340-8337