Recycling and Electronic Waste

New Jersey has been a world leader in recycling policy long before it was fashionable to be so.  In 1987 the State passed the first law mandating recycling.  Virtually any material that comes from a natural source can be recycled to varying degrees.  Recycling is the process of taking a used or already processed material and returning it to its natural state or component parts. The most commonly recycled products in the United States are glass, aluminum, and paper, although many other chemicals and containers are recycled as well.

In many communities across the United States recycling has become a weekly ritual.  However, as recycling becomes commonplace, the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling is being forgotten.  Everyday we use containers products and materials whose component parts are derived from natural resources.  When a product is thrown away we cannot re-use those natural resources, and we must obtain more.  If you have ever seen a copper or coal mine you can immediately see the effect that mining has had on the Earth.  While the mineral and metal we mine are important, we have reached the point where mining operations have already extracted the largest and most easily obtained ores. To extract new sources of ore we will have to search deeper or use more caustic chemicals to treat remnants, as is currently done to obtain copper.  Through recycling we can increase our stores of raw materials without increasing mining efforts.

Recycling is not a gift of new resources.  The laws of thermodynamics must still be obeyed. The first law of thermodynamics is that energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only change form.  So, kinetic energy, the energy of motion, can change into friction and heat.  The second law of thermodynamics is the "entropy law"; energy can only flow from high to low, or in other words, energy can only be used in its present form once.  Many people describe this as energy becoming less useful over time.  If you use a unit of energy to heat water, you cannot use the same unit of energy again to re-heat the water. What does this mean for recycling? The aluminum in a coca-cola can is in a specific physical state. Energy has acted upon the can to shape it to the  correct metal composition. To return the can to its pure aluminum state, energy must be used. Thus, recycling does not come without a cost.

Some products require more energy to recycle than others. This simple adherence to the laws of thermodynamics has given recycling a bad name to some groups in society. Anti-recyclers have claimed that it can take more energy to make a recycled cola can than a brand new one. However, it is not clear as to if they are taking into account the energy costs of mining the ore required to make the original can. Also, depending on the source of the energy, such as coal versus wind, it can be substantially better for the environment to recycle then to continue mining.

Another major proponent for recycling is the limited amount of resources available. There is a restricted amount of each element in the Earth's crust. If we use up all of the aluminum we can reach through mining, there will be nothing left of the supply. While we can continue to plant trees, we cannot replenish natural elements. Recycling helps us to extend the usefulness of our natural resources. 

New Jersey took an early stance on recycling with the 1987 law. In the years following  this law, recycling success rates have dropped. The Department of Environmental Protection identified several reasons for this trend. In 2005, Commissioner Campbell's Cheif of Staff, Gary Sondermeyer, testified in front of the Senate Environment Committee that the demand for recycled materials was declining. There was also a lack of support from the State due to the increased cost of recycling and the pressure that it puts on communities. To help encourage recycling efforts and to maintain New Jersey's overall commitment to recycling, the Legislature passed a bill in 2003 that opened up grant opportunities for municipalities.

As the 21st Century progresses, a new class of waste has burst onto the waste scene. Electronic waste, once a very small part of the waste stream, has now become the fastest growing type of waste. Electronic waste comes from televisions, cell phones, calculators, i-pods, lap tops, and many more electronic devices.

E-waste is particularly dangerous for two reasons. The first has to do with the steady increase of electronics being discarded. The turn over rate for consumer electronics is incredibly rapid. Cell phones and laptops are discarded within 2-3 years in exchange for the newest model. This means more waste is created in a shorter amount of time. Consumer electronics are also becoming more popular as their prices decrease substantially. While in the 1990s personal computers were still mainly a play thing of the wealthy, in the 21st Century not having a computer proves to be a major disadvantage at work and school. As these electronic products become more wide spread in their use, they will become more prevalent in the waste stream.

Another major issue is the serious threat electronic waste poses to the waste stream. These everyday electronic devices often contain a combination of lead, mercury, chromium, cadmium, polyvinyl chlorides (PVC's), beryllium, flame retardants, plastics, and other hazardous materials. While any individual piece of consumer electronics might contain trace amounts of these chemicals, the volume at which such products are entering the waste stream creates a significant problem.

The good news is that many electronics can be recycled and the parts either re-used or disposed of responsibly. Senator Bob Smith has worked hard to make e-waste recycling a reality in the State of New Jersey. Senators Smith and McNamara have sponsored Senate Bill 554, the "Electronic Waste Management Act." The Act would set guidelines on how to recycle e-waste in New Jersey. While the Act has not been passed yet, Senator Smith was pleased when Dell Computers and Goodwill Industries joined forces to inaugurate "Reconnect," a computer recycling program in New Jersey. Dell Computers will accept any Dell or other brand computer upon purchase of a new Dell. The Reconnect program goes further. Goodwill drop off centers across the State will now accept any brand of computer, and Dell will ensure that the electronics are recycled in a responsible manner.

Responsible recycling is a major feature in the Electronic Waste Management Act. There are operations abroad that dismantle electronic and other hazardous wastes. However, these operations are not always located in countries with proper regulations, so there can be damage to the environment and the people who handle the waste. Dell Computers recycles the waste domestically as to avoid this dilemma.

Reconnect is an important step in removing electronic waste from our landfills. However, more needs to be done to ensure that our soil and water is safe from contamination. The people of New Jersey should push for stronger e-waste regulations. In the process of waiting for these regulations, continue to recycle your batteries, cell phones, and computers in the appropriate locations. If you are unable to locate a responsible recycling facility, do the conscientious thing and store your old electronics until a time arrives when they can be safely dismantled.