ELECTRONICS RECYCLING 101

摘要

Companies are major consumers of electronic equipment of all kinds. It is estimated that machines such as computers, cellular telephones, printers, modems and other peripheral equipment become obsolete after only three or four years, which means that a great many devices are replaced with newer models as the old ones end their useful lives in the nearest city dump. Environment Canada notes that Canadians (companies and individuals alike) rid themselves of 140,000 tons of electronic waste every year. As well as filling landfill sites, computers and other electronic materials contain toxic substances such as lead, cadmium and mercury which can leach into the environment.