E-Waste an environmental disaster

Environmental Policy

e-waste

 

New environmental policies concerning e-waste, everybody should know about. The EPA’s approach is reuse, recycle and disposal of e-waste. Right now there are no federal laws that mandate mandatory e-waste recycling. New State laws have been passed prohibiting the dumping of electronic waste in land fills. This has made many new companies in the recycling industry. These new laws encourage people to recycle all their old electronics so the harmful chemicals in electronics stay out of the land fill. The recycled materials are introduced back into manufacturing. The use of recycled metals and chemicals in most cases save time, money and energy in manufacturing. This also saves the planets natural resources having to use less raw resources.

 

This new policy is attempting to keep the use of natural resources to a minimal. This also helps the planet using recycled items makes it possible to conserve and reuse resources in stead of getting new resources. This practice will also help stimulate the local economies keep the reusable resources in the local areas. The other thing these new regulations were supposed to help was export of recycled materials to China and other countries. Keeping these resources in our own country will help rebuild wealth. 

 

I think it is important to recycle everything you possibly can. Recycle all your paper goods, cans, bottles, glass and aluminum cans. Some people argue that it takes just as much energy to recycle as it does to use new resources. I don’t think this is true because the cost of getting new resources has to cost more than just reusing the old ones you have. This is saving the resources in nature and the less we use the better for the environment.  If we outlaw the export of reclaimed materials and used them here in the USA it should boost the economy.

 

The new recycling laws are proving to be effective; no more electronics are being put in the landfill. The recycled materials are being used in the local economy. The risk to contaminated ground water will be reduced. The cost involved is minimal compared to the long term effects of improperly disposed e=waste will have on the environment.

 

New companies are being created the recycled materials are being used. New jobs are being made and hopefully the manufacturing jobs will be created to help use the recycled materials in the USA. A good place to recycle your old computers and cell phones  is IT Ecycler

 

Works Cited

"ECycling | Common Wastes & Materials | US EPA." US Environmental Protection Agency. Web. 13 Oct. 2011. .

"Regulations/Standards | ECycling | US EPA." US Environmental Protection Agency. Web. 13 Oct. 2011. .