Page 673 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

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644 Waste Management Practices: Municipal, Hazardous, and Industrial
QUESTIONS

1. What are the trends in generation of e-waste in the United States over the past decade?
How are the majority of e-wastes managed (i.e., landfill, stockpile, reuse, etc.)? Does the
current recycling rate for these products correspond with the generation rate?
2. What is the contribution of consumer electronic products to the lead input of sanitary
landfills? What is the contribution to cadmium input? Mercury input?
3. How does a mainframe computer differ from a typical desktop PC in terms of recycla-
bility? How does a laptop differ from a desktop in this respect?
4. The Pb in the funnel and face plate glass occurs as PbO and is considered stable and
immobile. Under what conditions, therefore, is the lead in computer CRTs hazardous to
health?
5. Where does mercury, chromium, and cadmium occur in a personal computer? List spe-
cific components where each occur.
6. What are the health effects that may be associated with PVC and brominated flame retar-
dants in computer monitors?
7. How does desktop computer plastic differ in terms of recyclability with plastic from a
nonfood container (e.g., HDPE or PVC)? You may wish to refer to Chapter 6
(Recycling).
8. What is the benefit in promulgating a separate rule for CRT recycling rather than simply
relying on the Universal Waste Rule?
9. How are computer circuit boards managed under RCRA?
10. How would you expect the generation of e-waste to change over the next 10 years? What
components may disappear from the waste stream? What new products may begin to
appear in large quantities?
11. In your opinion, are current federal and state regulations which address e-waste manage-
ment and recycling adequate to ensure environmental quality over a long term? Should
there be mandatory federal and state recycling of personal computers?
12. List all the major electronic appliances and devices in your home. How long have you
owned each? What is the expected lifetime of each? Which do you feel can be safely dis-
posed in the trash when their usable lifetime is complete? Which should be recycled or
shipped for special disposal?
13. In your community, how are e-wastes handled? Is there a community drop-off center or
a special waste disposal event? Is there an adequate public education program so that
local citizens are informed about e-waste? If there is a local collection program, check
with the local waste authority as to where these wastes are shipped for recycling.
14. Contact your university inventory agent and inquire as to how old or obsolete desktop
PCs are managed. How many are replaced each year? Are the obsolete PCs made avail-
able for public purchase or are they donated or recycled? If recycled, explain where they
are sent and how they are managed.
15. What are the major cost considerations for a community considering establishment of an
e-waste recycling program? Which steps are likely to be the most costly?
16. In some electronics demanufacturing facilities, unskilled workers may be employed. List
possible hazards to workers involved in demanufacture of PCs, television sets, and sim-
ilar equipment.
17. List some of the general, practical difficulties in recycling electronics waste.
18. A fire has occurred in an office which houses several dozen desktop and laptop PCs, tele-
phones, a photocopy machine, a VCR and television monitor. List possible hazards to
those persons entering the office during and immediately following the fire. You may