Progressive Detective: E-Waste
Investigating the politics behind everyday things
Q: I have a computer graveyard in my basement. What is the best way to safely dispose of my old technology?
A: With regular and rapid changes in computing technology, machines commonly become “obsolete” within a couple of years. The disposal of old systems has become a global problem as they pile up—leaking environmentally damaging substances all the way.
Toxic materials such as lead, cadmium and mercury are found in electronic equipment and can pose health risks if machines aren’t properly disposed of. (Approximately 2 kg of lead can be found in the average computer monitor.)
Not every province has legislation governing e-waste. As a result, Canadian electronics show up regularly in dumps and landfills both locally and overseas. Some private companies, however, are working to minimize the dangers associated with disposal of old technology.
Vancouver-based Electronics Recycling Canada assists businesses and individuals nationwide in keeping toxic electronics materials out of landfills, groundwater and the atmosphere, while reBoot Canada—with locations from Newfoundland to Alberta—will recycle your old computer to non-profits and people with limited access to technology.
Investigate how a company disposes of your equipment before you bring it in. Be sure to ask how it e-recycles and, most importantly, if it will be shipping any part of your electronic waste overseas—many recyclers send equipment to Asia, where recycling is cheaper because fewer, if any, safeguards are in place.
