What to do with e waste Mississauga
- Reduce e waste Mississauga through proper maintenance of electronics devices. It is also suggested to buy good quality electronics that can be upgraded with the newest technology when necessary.
- Reuse e waste Mississauga by donating it to a charitable institution. You will be doing a favor to many children by providing them the opportunity to experience new technology. You can also sell your functioning electronic equipment for an affordable price. There are lots of individuals who have the capability to refurbish old electronic equipment.
- Recycle e waste Mississauga that cannot longer be repaired. Search for a recycling facility that will pay you for the electronics that have reached the end of its usable life. You will be doing a great favor to the environment by not dumping your e waste Mississauga on the over flowing landfills.
What are the dangers of e waste?
E waste Mississauga contains toxic elements such as lead, cadmium, mercury and brominated flame retardants. It is estimated that at least 40% of the lead content of landfills is from electronic waste. Lead is found as solder on printed circuit boards and in television and computer monitor glass. Lead can cause health problems because of the damage it causes on the central and peripheral nervous system.
Mercury is found in all fluorescent lamps, printed circuit board, laptops and LCD screen backlights. When e waste Mississauga is dumped in the landfills, mercury can accumulate in living organisms and travel back up the food chain. Mercury is extremely hazardous as it can cause organ damage and mental impairment.
Cadmium is found in chip resistors and semi-conductors. Cadmium contains carcinogens that can induce different kinds of cancers. It is also considered harmful to the kidneys. The threat of cadmium to humans increases when solid waste is incinerated in the landfills. Inhalation and exposure to cadmium leads to a buildup in the kidneys that will eventually lead to organ damage.
Brominated flame retardants are found in printed circuit boards and plastics. BFRs reduce the risk of fires in products like electronics, clothes and furniture; however, it contains toxins that increase the risks for cancer.
In order to prevent more harm to the environment, governments all over the world have enacted laws that make it illegal to dispose of e-waste in landfills. These laws have also raised awareness towards e-waste recycling. Manufacturers of electronic products are also encouraged to create their own take-back programs so as to reduce the growing concern over e-waste disposal.