An astonishing amount of obsolete computers and electronics are piling up. These machines contain an array of toxic materials, including lead, mercury, and brominated flame-retardants. Currently these computers are destined for landfills or incinerated in the US or developing countries. In the meantime, brominated flame-retardants (the new PCBs) are showing up in high levels in women's breast milk in the U.S.
Ever wonder what becomes of old cell phones? Click here for a new video!
The solution is to make producers take back and recycle their obsolete products. Producer takeback means there is a built-in incentive to make electronics that are more recyclable, last longer, and use less toxic material. TCE is currently working with the National Electronics TakeBack Coalition to pressure television producers to start recycling their old TVs. Sony has already launched free recycling, other companies should follow suit! Click here to take action.
TCE worked to pass HB 2714 through the Texas Legislature in the Spring of 2007. The law requires computer producers to provide consumers with free and convenient recycling for desktop and laptops computers and monitors. TCE is working to make sure the state environmental agency passes strong rules to implements the Texas Computer TakeBack law.
TCE is also working to educate our state's U.S. Senators and Congressmembers to defend the new Texas law and to press for legislation that cuts off low road and dangerous "recycling." Congress needs to act to stop the export of toxic electronic waste to developing countries and to prisons where people are poisoned and the environment is compromised.
In 2009, TCE will hold our state legislators accountable for their promise to expand e-waste recycling beyond computers and monitors to televisions.
Tech trash dealers get with the program to salvage old computers (Dallas Morning News )
Your Laptop's Dirty Little Secret (Time Magazine)
Apocalypse February! Where will you be when the (TV) world comes to an end??!! (Austin Chronicle)
issue background
NEW! How do they stack up? To hold elected officials accountable for their actions on the environment it’s important to know how they voted when critical environmental legislation is debated and decided. Click here to see the Voting Records of Texas State and Federal Lawmakers
New Videos Highlight Toxins in Consumer Products, Unsustainable Design and Cell Phone Waste & Dumping of E-waste. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our wasteful production and consumption patterns. The Secret Life of Cell Phones documents the fate of the millions of phones discarded every year. New You Tube video documents dumping of e-waste in West Africa. Enjoy, and pass along!
