Cell phones, computers and other IT goods, as well as components like circuit
boards, batteries and cathode-ray TV glass, face a mixed fate. Many are dumped,
some are recycled for precious metals, and some are shipped overseas.
In the Hatsune Miku campaign, some
570,000 unwanted cell phones were collected at 1,886 stores over 100 days to the
end of February, according to a government report. The successful campaign included cash
prizes, so participants weren’t merely motivated by conservation or the charms
of Hatsune.
So-called “urban mining” recycling plants can turn trash into treasure. The
government estimates the phones yielded 22 kilograms of gold, 79 kilograms of
silver, two kilograms of palladium and over five tons of copper.
But while appliances such as TVs and air conditioners are subject to disposal
laws, with recycling rates generally high, so-called e-waste -- including cell
phones, computers and other electronic waste -- is another story.
In the year to April 2005, over 7 million PCs were discarded, with some 37
percent disposed or recycled, 37 percent reused within Japan, and 26 percent
exported, according to Japan’s National Institute for Environmental
Joy Scrogum on 03 Nov 09EPA's Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD) Program is a voluntary partnership program that began in October 2006 to help protect the ozone layer and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. As part of the RAD program, partners recover ozone-depleting chemicals from old refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers. Using best practices, RAD partners ensure that: refrigerant is recovered and reclaimed or destroyed; foam is recovered and destroyed, or the blowing agent is recovered and reclaimed; metals, plastic, and glass are recycled; and PCBs, mercury, and used oil are recovered and properly disposed. As part of the program, EPA serves as a technical clearinghouse on responsible appliance disposal program development and implementation; calculates annual and cumulative program benefits in terms of ODS and GHG emission savings and equivalents and, as available, potential cost savings; and provides partner recognition for achievement, such as through press releases, brochures, articles, and awards. RAD partners include utilities, municipalities, retailers, manufacturers, universities, and other interested organizations.
