Discarding Cell Phones Needs Consumer Initiatives
by Dave Bell
Although individual cell phones contain only a fraction of the lead and brominated flame retardant found in a computer, their growing number and shorter life span threaten to contribute an increasing proportion of these and other toxic substances to the waste stream. In just a few years, Americans will be retiring 130 million cell phones annually, according to a new report by the environmental research organization, "Inform." Most of these will be held for disposal at a later date, creating a stockpile of 500 million used phones by 2005, the group estimates.
"Because these devices are so small, their environmental impacts might appear to be minimal, but the growth in their use has been so enormous that the environmental and public health impacts of the waste they create are a significant concern," said Bette Fishbein, Inform Senior Fellow and author of Waste in the Wireless World: The Challenge of Cell Phones. "Indeed, the small size of these products increases the likelihood that they will be thrown in the trash and sent to incinerators and landfills, where environmental contamination can occur from combustion and leaching into soil and groundwater."
Like other wireless electronic devices, cell phones contain persistent and bio-accumulative toxic chemicals (PBTs) that are linked to cancer and a host of neurological, reproductive, and developmental disorders. Their components include: arsenic, antimony, beryllium, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc; along with the brominated flame retardant used in the plastic parts.
"It should be noted that these substances are not known to pose threats to the environment or public health while the devices are being used," said Fishbein. "Rather, their hazardous effects occur downstream - during materials extraction and processing - and at end of life, when cell phones and other wireless products are incinerated or disposed of in landfills, and during recycling processes such as shredding, grinding, melting, plastics extrusion, and metals processing."
From Design to Disposal
Fishbein applauds efforts by manufacturers and the forthcoming European
regulations that will limit the number and amount of toxic substances in
cell phones and other electronic equipment. "The electronics industry
in the U.S. is moving much more slowly than industry in Europe and Japan,
although developments abroad are having a significant impact [here]. Since
most electronic products are globally designed - if they have to be lead-free
in Europe and Japan, they will probably be made lead-free throughout the
world."
She recommends that cell phones and their accessories be designed for disassembly, reuse, and recycling, and calls for standardized cell phone design elements, as well as a single technical standard for all cell phone carriers. "The U.S. has several competing technical standards, forcing users to purchase a new phone when they change service providers or travel abroad. As a result, more phones are purchased and more discarded. Design standardization would allow adapters and other accessories to be used with many makes and models of cell phone. At present, accessories are dedicated to specific devices, creating additional waste whenever consumers buy a new phone. Like cell phones, such accessories contain toxic components and frequently create more waste than the phones themselves."
Fishbein wants manufacturers in this country to implement take-back programs for cell phones and their rechargeable batteries. "An effective program includes targets for collection, reuse, and recycling, reporting requirements, and enforcement mechanisms. Most voluntary take-back initiatives for cell phones and other electronic equipment in the U.S. lack all of these crucial components. It might take financial incentives, such as deposits and refunds, to encourage consumer participation," she added.
Challenges Ahead
Cell phone recyclers are beginning to see their industry grow. "Five
years ago, you'd be hard-pressed to call what we're doing an industry,"
Craig Boswell of Hobi International
told greenZONE. "Now we're starting to get a profile. The problem is,
a for-profit recycler can't deal with an individual and make economic sense."
Boswell would like to see trade-in or other program that has a low impact
on the consumer.
The next challenge could come from disposable cell phones. "Cell phones designed to be thrown away after being used for about 60 minutes could produce large amounts of additional waste," said Fishbein. "If these products are not designed for reuse and recycling, with programs established to take them back after consumers discard them, the waste they generate will place additional burdens on municipal waste systems and the taxpayers who fund them. Take-back programs should be introduced from the outset for all disposable cell phones, if and when these devices become available."
View the complete report at http://www.informinc.org/cellphone.htm
Contact Dave Bell at bells@friend.ly.net