The Effect of Electronic Waste on Children

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The advancement of digital devices has changed the world – mostly for the better. However, there is a growing issue of electronic waste or e-waste that is having a devastating effect, particularly on children. The buildup of e-waste over the past couple of decades has been enormous. The health effects are only now being fully seen, especially among children. 

What is Electronic Waste? 

E-waste is the term used to describe electronic products that are on the verge of no longer being useful or useable. This can include electronics such as TVs, smartphones, fax and printer machines, computers, etc. If any of these electronics break or become outdated, that is when they often become eligible for being refurbished or recycled. 

E-waste recycling is a massive market with facilities placed all around the world. It is estimated that more than 18 million children are engaged in e-waste recycling. Although recycling itself is a good thing, certain elements that can be found in electronics can also be harmful to humans, especially children, such as lead and mercury. Such exposure can hinder their mental development and create serious, long-term health issues. 

Electronic Waste Is A Growing Issue

The volume of e-waste around the world has grown by more than 20% just in the past five years. Today, it is estimated that the amount of e-waste created is the equivalent of filling up 350 cruise ships.

As the use of computers, smartphones, and other electronic devices continues to grow, so will the volume of electronic waste. With just over 17% being sent to proper recycling centers, the rest is dumped illegally. This exposes its harmful elements to adults and children. And while the effects on those living in third-world countries are the most apparent, cases of wrongful e-waste and contamination are growing in countries such as the United States and Europe as well. 

The effect on health is considerable. The effect that e-waste has on the environment is quite damaging. With more areas subject to illegal dumping, the underground market for e-waste materials continues to grow. That means more toxic chemicals being released into the environment making for a more dangerous world. 

How Brickley Environmental Can Help

If you have electronic or e-waste on your property, Brickley Environmental can help. We offer our knowledge, experience, and equipment that will identify and remove your waste. Our trained technicians understand how to safely remove waste from properties like yours. In addition, we offer several other services as well which include the following. 

  • Asbestos Abatement
  • Demolition
  • Hazardous Waste Removal 
  • Lead-Based Paint Removal
  • Mold Remediation & More 

For additional information about e-waste, click here to view the EPA website.

Household Hazardous Waste

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While most household waste can be safely stored and disposed of by simply taking out the garbage, hazardous waste must be treated differently. Certain products cannot simply be poured down the drain, into sewer systems, or on the ground. Proper disposal not only protects the environment, but it also protects you, your family, and anyone coming into contact with this waste. 

How to Handle Household Hazardous Waste Properly

The first essential tip starts with following the instructions on the product label. By meeting the requirements listed, you can help prevent any accidents from occurring. This includes reading the instructions as to the disposal of the product itself. 

Many chemicals that are improperly handled may become dangerous when mixed with other chemicals, exposed to the skin, or inhaled into the lungs. Chemicals that are flammable not only may catch on fire but explode and cause considerable damage and injury. The product label should inform you what to do with hazardous materials once you no longer have need of them. 

It is recommended that you store chemicals in their original containers whenever possible. If the container is corroding, then you may want to call the local fire department or hazardous materials official in your area. You also never want to mix hazardous waste with other chemicals. If you have leftover chemicals, it may be tempting to mix them with other unwanted chemicals or products so they can be disposed of together. However, the mixture may cause additional issues such as explosions, fire, or other serious problems. 

Most communities have designated sites for the proper disposal of household hazardous waste. Check to see where your local designated site is located and what materials they accept. 

Reducing Household Hazardous Waste in Your Home

Instead of purchasing potentially dangerous products, you can instead use alternatives where available. Here’s a short list of alternatives that are safe to use, store, and dispose of when no longer needed: 

  • Drain Cleaner: Plumber’s snake or plunger 
  • Furniture Polish: Mix one teaspoon of lemon juice with one pint of vegetable oil 
  • Glass Cleaner: Mix one tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice with one quart of water
  • Mothballs: Cedar chips, rosemary, or white peppercorns
  • Rug Deodorizer: Sprinkle baking soda and vacuum after 15 minutes

Why Choose Brickley Environmental? 

If you have questions about the proper use, storage, and disposal of household hazardous waste, call the experts at Brickley Environmental. Your call will be answered by friendly, courteous staff who will listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and provide the proper guidance so you can make the best-informed decision.

At Brickley Environmental, we work with people who have the same issues that you are facing with hazardous household waste including its proper disposal. We also provide expert services in asbestos abatement, lead-based paint removal, mold remediation, demolition, and more. Call today and find out more about how Brickley Environmental can help you. 

For more information about properly disposing of hazardous waste, click here to visit the EPA website.

Sustainable Management of C&D Materials

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Construction and demolition materials, often known as C&D materials, consist of the basic products used to create residences, buildings, and structures. These materials are used during the construction process, which subsequently means they will have to be broken apart during the demolition phase. 

The result is that such materials will need to be properly disposed of. Quite often during the construction process, materials will be leftover and not used. Such materials include but are not limited to:

  • Asphalt, concrete and bricks or masonry
  • Wood, gypsum, and glass
  • Metal, plastics, and other components

Other components often consist of items salvaged from other projects, such as doors, plumbing, and the like. There are also natural materials that are removed from the property for the purposes of construction, such as soil, trees, stumps, and rocks. 

Amount of C&D Material Debris

In the US alone, the amount of C&D material either created by demolition or leftover from construction is estimated to be 600 million tons each year. This is more than twice the amount of municipal solid waste that is generated. 

It is true that demolition is responsible for around 90% of the C&D material produced. Roughly 455 million tons were reused in some manner with the remaining being sent to landfills. 

Benefits of Reducing C&D Material Disposal

While a considerable amount of C&D material is being reused or repurposed, there are still nearly 145 million tons that are not. The advantages of reducing the amount of material generated are considerable. These include:

  • Fewer disposal facilities
  • Reduce building & demolition expenses
  • Offset environmental impact
  • Reduce use of landfill space 

Creating less overall waste is also beneficial because certain types of waste materials simply cannot be repurposed. By reducing the amount that is generated, more can be repurposed or recycled. This also helps the environment. 

In addition to the cleaner air, land, and waterways, the reduction of C&D materials provides benefits across the board. By focusing on how much C&D materials are used, the construction process can become more efficient and waste less material. For demolition practices, finding ways to properly reuse or repurpose materials leads to greater efficiency, less waste, and more jobs as companies form.

How Brickley Environmental Can Help

For those who are interested in the proper disposal of construction and demolition materials, Brickley Environmental has the knowledge, experience, and equipment to do the job. Over the years, Brickley Environmental has helped many home and business owners dispose of unwanted materials, including those used in construction and demolition. 

Call today and find out more about how Brickley Environmental can help you clean up a construction or demolition site. Contact us today and discover what Brickley Environmental can offer you. 

For more information on sustainable management of construction and demolition materials, click here to visit the EPA website.

COVID-19 Induced Waste Scenario

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The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic will go down as one of the most disruptive events in modern history. Of all the conditions that have affected the world due to the pandemic, one thing that is causing a growing concern is the increase in waste volume. The increase in the volume of waste products has caused considerable concern that the virus may spread faster than ever before. 

Increase in COVID-19 Waste Product

Waste processing systems around the world are predicated on the movement and location of people. Before the days of extended lockdowns, many people during the day are at work, school, or outside the home. This means that the waste product they generate is handled by different systems. 

But more importantly, the amount of waste from residential locations has placed a large burden on waste collection and processing facilities. This is not only about human waste, but the one-time use products used to help keep the spread of the virus in check. 

Such products are now filling up landfills and overwhelming processing centers which puts the surrounding environment in danger of leakage. This means that even if the virus is not spread due to the increase is waste products, the environment may be in danger because facilities have become overwhelmed. 

Environmental Impact

In most developed countries, the increase in waste product does not strain the system. This issue is mostly for less developed countries that do not have an adequate waste collection and processing system. 

However, there are local areas even in developed countries such as the US that may be impacted if a combination of events occurs at the same time. For example, a hurricane or major storm combined with power outages and temporary reduction of services may create an overload to the system. 

While such situations may seem rare, they can happen in areas which may already be close to capacity. States with large homes populations for example are more vulnerable to the environmental impact of reduced waste management processes. 

For business owners who may have issues with their own waste collection and processing systems, there is a company that can help. 

Call Brickley Environmental

If you have concerns about the increase in potentially hazardous waste material due to the COVID-19 pandemic, then call the professionals at Brickley Environmental. They have the knowledge, experience, and equipment to identify any increase in waste product due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For companies or areas that are seeing an increase in waste production or have concerns about the spreading of COVID-19, then Brickley Environmental may have the answer. Call today and find out more about how such waste material may be identified and checked for the presence of the virus. 

E-waste – A Toxic Waste Stream

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e-waste

E-Waste consists of discarded electronic parts. It is quickly becoming one of the largest disposal issues. Finding ways to properly dispose of electronic panels, computers, mobile devices, and other scrap electronic devices are becoming quite problematic. 

This is especially true in developing countries where advances in digital technology are rapidly rising. The lack of recycling e-waste is leading to rising health concerns. 

The Buildup of E-Waste

The reason why electronic waste is becoming a greater issue is because of advancing technology. Today’s computers, mobile devices, and other technology are much more advanced compared to a decade ago. It’s easy to see why older devices have become obsolete. E-waste can be harmless in small amounts, but become an environmental issue when collected in large quantities.

Recycling Efforts

Even though many old electronic devices are still usable with some containing valuable materials, recycling of such devices is still quite small. This is because of the difficulties in breaking down old electronic waste, extracting the valuable materials, and dealing with the issues of possible toxic substances. 

But the advantages of recycling starts with the toxic substances that are not buried and left to leak into local water supplies. Plus, many of the components can be used again and again without degradation. The solutions include the following:

  • Using devices for as long as practical
  • Identifying recycling locations
  • Giving away older devices that might be of use to others 

There is a multitude of rules and regulations regarding the proper disposal of old devices. There is also a lack of recycling facilities. This can be a difficult issue to solve.

Why Call Brickley Environmental?

The experts at Brickley Environmental can help if your company is disposing of old electronic devices, computers, and the like. There may be some e-waste that is recyclable which means that your company or others can use it for their needs. Call Brickley Environmental today and talk to the experts who can help you properly dispose of the e-waste that is on your property. 

For more information on E-Waste, please visit the EPA website.