The Truth About Hazardous Waste
What is 'hazardous waste'?
Hazardous waste is the element inside our electronics which can hurt our central nervous system if it's ingested, or if our bodies come into contact with it. It's waste such as mercury, lead, beryllium, cadmium, and arsenic; stuff that the EPA has deemed to be hazardous and harmful to humans, to animals, and to our environment as a whole if we come in contact with these materials.
Why is my old TV considered hazardous waste?
Your old TV is considered hazardous waste because it has elements of lead in it. The lead that's in our television screens and our computer screens that protects us from the harmful rays from these screens, when they get into landfills and become broken and potentially leech into the environment and the ground and water supply, it's then that that lead becomes harmful, as does the arsenic, mercury, beryllium and cadmium.
Why are the plastics found in e-waste dangerous for the environment?
Plastics contain many harmful elements. The leading harmful element in plastics is fire retardant, which is hazardous to the central nervous system if ingested, or if it comes in contact with human life through the environment, through the ground or water supply.
Why are old cell phones an environmental concern?
Old cell phones, again, like other types of electronics, contain trace amounts of lead, arsenic, and other harmful elements that, if it comes in contact with human beings or animals or the environment, it can harm our central nervous system and create deformities and other problems in people or animals.
What is a 'cathode ray tube' (CRT) monitor?
Cathode ray tube is the tube that sits inside of your television set or your computer which then beams the rays of images to us that we are watching on the television set or the computer monitor.
What chemicals may be found in my CRT monitor?
