High-Tech Trash. June is the wet season in Ghana, but here in Accra, the capital, the morning rain has ceased. As the sun heats the humid air, pillars of black smoke begin to rise above the vast Agbogbloshie Market. I follow one plume toward its source, past lettuce and plantain vendors, past stalls of used tires, and through a clanging scrap market where hunched men bash on old alternators and engine blocks. Soon the muddy track is flanked by piles of old TVs, gutted computer cases, and smashed monitors heaped ten feet (three meters) high. Beyond lies a field of fine ash speckled with glints of amber and green—the sharp broken bits of circuit boards. Choking, I pull my shirt over my nose and approach a boy of about 15, his thin frame wreathed in smoke.
Another day in the market, on a similar ash heap above an inlet that flushes to the Atlantic after a downpour, Israel Mensah, an incongruously stylish young man of about 20, adjusts his designer glasses and explains how he makes his living. How to Recycle Your E-Junk - National Geographic's Green Guide. Advancement Resources. DEQ: Pollution Prevention: Recycling Electronics Responsibly. Are you wondering what to do with your old electronics? America's growing use of electronics has created a new environmental challenge: electronic waste, or e-waste.
What is Considered E-waste? The following unusable electronics are considered e-waste: Audio and Stereo Equipment Cellular Phones Computers and Computer Peripherals Telephones, Fax and Copying Machines Televisions and Monitors VCRs and DVD Players Video Cameras Video Game Consoles Wireless Devices What's the Problem?
Electronic equipment contain toxic compounds such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and brominated flame retardants. These toxic compounds can leach into the soil and water supplies or contaminate our air, if electronics are sent to landfills or incinerated. References: What are the Options for Safely Recycling My Electronics? Choose a Responsible Recycler Questions to Ask Potential Recyclers How Can I Be a Responsible Consumer? How to Buy Greener Electronics Manufacturer TakeBack Programs Electronics Recyclers. E-waste. Computer Recycling Utah, Electronics, Metals, Printers, Monitors - Stone Castle Computer & Electronics Recycling.