e waste nz

E-Waste

www.transend.co.nz | 0800 84 22 53 | [email protected]

Colton, Copper, Aluminium, Lead, Gold, Zinc, Nickel, Tin, Silver, Iron, Platinum, Palladium, Mercury, Cobalt, Antimony, Arsenic, Barium, Beryllium, Cadmium, Chromium, Selenium, Polyvinyl Chloride, Hexavalent Chromium, Brominated Flame Retardants, and Gallium

The ingredients of a typical

desktop, laptop or monitor


E-Waste = Toxic Waste


Material Main applications in computer production

Plastics including PVC

Cabling, computer housings

Lead Soldering of printed circuit boards and other components; glass panels in CRT monitors

Barium Vacuum tubes in CRT monitors

Beryllium Used for thermal conductivity

Cadmium SMD chip resistors, infrared detectors, semiconductors,older models of CRTs; also used as plastic stabilizer

Hexavalent Chromium

Mostly phased out, but still some limited use as corrosion protector and decorative or hardener for steel housings


Materials Main application in computer productionSelenium Used in rectifiers and printed wiring boardsMercury Sensors and switches on printed circuit boards,

batteries, switches/housing, printed wiring boards, tubes in flat panel Screens

Arsenic Doping’ agents in transistors and printed wiring boards

PCBs (Polychlorinatedbiphenyls)

Used in capacitors and transformers (older equipmentonly)


• Beryllium – Human carcinogen – cancer causing. Lung cancer and skin disease

• Hexavalent Chromium – Highly toxic material which can pass easily through cell membranes; causes strong allergic reaction (asthmatic, bronchitis) even in small concentrations. May also cause DNA damage

• Brominated flame retardants – Cause Thyroid Damage and harm fetal development

Environmental & Health Impacts


Barium – Brain swelling, muscle weakness, damage to the heart, liver and spleenSelenium – Causes Selenosis, which symptoms are hair loss, nail brittleness and neurological abnormalities PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls) – PCBs affect the immune, hormone, nervous, and enzyme systems of the body and therefore have impacts on almost every organ. PCBs are considered by health agencies as a known carcinogen for animals and a probable carcinogen for humans


• Lead – Damage to nervous system, blood. A neurotoxin. It also harms the kidneys and reproductive system. Even low-level lead exposure can impair a child’s mental development.

• Cadmium – Acute and Chronic toxic compound which accumulates in human body, esp. In kidneys. Can be absorbed either through respiration or ingested through food.

• Plastics (PVC) – Various cancers, endocrine system disruption. If burnt, releases highly toxic dioxins


• Mercury – Causes Chronic brain damage. Easily accumulates in living organisms, esp. Fish. Also linked to Kidney damage and harmful to a developing fetus. It can be passed through breast milk. Inorganic mercury is transformed into methylated mercury when introduced into natural water systems, where it concentrates in sediment.

• Arsenic – Various diseases of the skin and decrease nerve conduction velocity. Can also cause lung cancer and can often be fatal.


50 million tonnes of E-waste a year worldwide

Still over 85% unsafe disposal or landfill

A Global Problem


New Zealand- In NZ, 2006 - 96,000 Tonnes of e-

waste sent to landfill- No Laws in NZ preventing e-waste to

landfill- Precious Metals Wasted: gold, silver,

platinum, copper


• Estimated NZ stock 16 million units (10 million CRT’s) that will become end of life & enter waste stream

• In 2005, 830,000 new televisions and computers were sold in NZ

• Total lead that may reach the waste stream = 13,540 tonnes

New Zealand


Do we want to be remembered as the

generation that destroyed the environment for our

descendants?


• EU WEEE - Waste and Electronic Equipment Directive

• EU RoHS – Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive

• Basel Convention

Global Legislation – What’s been done about it?


• NZ needs to develop own “in-country” capability to deal with E-Waste• Strict adherence to Basel Permits needs to be followed and policed• NZ should hurry up and introduce producer responsibility laws

What does NZ need to do?


What should consumers do?

• Buy RoHS compliant equipment • Storage (Keep it in your garage for now)• Wait for E-Day 2010 (If it happens!)

• Drop-off at recycling centre and be willing to pay for proper recycling – about $30 per computer

“Never send to Landfill and start asking your recycling

company for proof of environmentally sound

destruction”

e waste nz

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