Electronic Waste Sei Tanghui July20, 2009

2 Outline Questions relevant to electronic waste Relevant arguments Conclusion Q&A

3 How many mobile phones did you use? How many computers did you use? Ipod/mp3/mp4? Cameras? Television sets?

4 How did you deal with your old cell phones? old computers? old ipod/mp3/mp4? old cameras? old television sets?

5 What’s electronic waste? Electronic items being sold, donated, or discarded by their original owners

6 Arguments Positive sideNegative side a)Electric items are convenience a) Public healtha)Electric items are convenience a) Public health

7 Positive side Electronic items satisfy our day to day life.

8 Negative side Public health concerns –Toxic substances Lead Mercury cadmium –Carcinogenic substances polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)polychlorinated biphenyls

9 Arguments Positive sideNegative side a)Electric items are convenience b) Basel convention a) Public health b) Illegal dumpb) Basel convention b) Illegal dump

10 Positive side Basel convention gets E-waste under control between country and country. Regulation If a country exports E-waste, it needs bilateral agreement. Taiwan ChinaJapan E-waste

11 Negative side E-waste in developed countries /areas Developing Countries/ areas Illegally dump in to

12 Arguments Positive sideNegative side a)Electric items are convenience b) Basel convention c) Recyclable Resources a) Public health b) Illegal dump for advancing countries or areas c) Feasibility c) Recyclable Resources c) Feasibility

13 Positive side Electronic waste is an artificial mine! Heavy metals Au Fe Cu Ag Rare metals Ta Ni Li Rare earth elements La Y Sc E-waste contains many metals. - rarity value - base metal - unevenly distributed - essential for electronic items

14 Negative side Is recycle feasible? –Only 2% e-waste in the landfills –75% in the garages or the desk drawers

15 Conclusion Can we stop using electronic items? Take care of them & Use as longer as you could New policy for recycle(international) We should recycle among small area as if a village. (East Asia, North America, East Europe etc) transportation costs, policy ・・・ New technology of recycle Environmentally Benign Manufacturing (EBM)

16 Questions ? Comments? Concerns?