Computer Waste

... Salim Sakr I.T.G.S. Computer Waste Criterion A Describing the Issue A Mike Saphiro of the Environmental Protection Agency says "we're seeing an explosion in technology". While this is occurring consumers will surely want to upgrade to the new systems, and as a consequence more and more discarded electronic devices will end up in the waste stream. According to the latest figures from the National Safety Council (an environmental watchdog group in Washington) in 1998, 20 million computers had become obsolete in the United States alone, and only 14 % of them have been recycled or donated.1 It is expected that by 2004 the number will raise to 315 million.2 The companies which would rather dump their old computers in landfill sites instead of recycling them risk damaging public health, industry experts have warned.3 Computers are made out of hazardous toxic chemicals, which can cause serious environmental problems such as: acid rain, air pollution,

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