The E-Waste Recycling Market

摘要

Is there money to be made reusing or recycling electronics waste ("e-waste")? Some companies believe the answer is "yes" and have begun to realize the profit potential in a market still in its infancy. E-waste is the name given to obsolete or otherwise unwanted computers, televisions, VCRs and mobile phones that may pose environmental hazards when disposed of in landfills. As consumers and businesses upgrade to new technology, many are unsure about how to responsibly dispose of old equipment. Industry Canada estimates that Canadian businesses and households generate 79,000 tonnes of e-waste on an annual basis. In 1999 alone, over 37,478 metric tonnes of e-waste were disposed of in Canada, including over 1,495 tonnes of lead, 2.2 tonnes of cadmium, and 0.55 tonnes of mercury. Currently, approximately 10 percent of e-waste is refurbished or recycled with the remainder being landfilled. With their usefulness unfulfilled and the potentially hazardous pollutants contained within, a more environmentally friendly approach is needed for to dealing with this waste stream.