161,000 tons. That's one estimate for how much used electronics are thrown away into the garbage each year, with just 8,000 tons marked for recycling. There's growing concerns a lot of the toxic material inside many electronics is not only polluting ground water, but is a wasted opportunity for salvaging materials like gold, copper and aluminum. A proposed bill may soon make tossing out electronics as illegal as dumping chemicals down the drain...
The Colorado Electronic Recycling Bill promoted by lawmakers from both parties, Bill 133, proposes to ban "certain electronic products from going in landfills and directing the waste to be reused instead."
The bill prohibits the disposal of certain consumer electronic devices in landfills, effective by a date established by the solid and hazardous waste commission. Disposal in landfills located in communities that are not well-served by electronic device recycling facilities may be exempted from the ban. Beginning July 1, 2013, state agencies must arrange for the recycling of such devices with a certified recycler. The department of public health and environment must coordinate with existing public and private efforts pertaining to the development and implementation of a public education program regarding electronic device recycling.
More about this proposed legislation over at HuffPost Green
Image: Will Merydith licensed by Creative Commons
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I count myself as incredibly lucky. At least once a month there is a flyer on my doorstep of an organization doing a recyclable electronics pickup. And if something absolutely has to go sooner, there are generally drop offs sponsored by various charitable organizations each weekend somewhere nearby. Any more in my area it's almost easier to recycle something than it is to trash it. It's also a money saver for us. Our trash rates are high so the less that goes in to our trash cans the better off we are.