Recycling E-waste An Essential Solution to a Growing Problem in Clayton County, Georgia - Essay Example

There is a shortage of existing programs and resources dedicated to such recycling and proper disposal" (Georgia General Assembly). There are hardly a few recognized, licensed re-cycling agents for electronic goods in Georgia. This is a proposal from EFEWROPS or the "Environment Friendly Electronic Waste Recycle Options" - a non-profit organization with registered body volunteers (with plans to take in two paid workers), who possess the knowledge and expertise required for careful handling and re-cycle of electronic waste materials.

This body aims to offer useful, qualitative service in the much needed arena of electronic-re-cycling by providing 1) on-site inspection services, 2) free-consultations regarding recycle options, 3) more collection centers, as well as 4) adding one more electronic re-cycling unit in Clayton County, Georgia, at a total approximate cost of $ 30,000 with aid from Solid Waste Trust Fund Program, Georgia DCA and philanthropists and private donors. In a report titled "Is a PC landfill tax inevitable" Declan McCullagh (cnet.com 2005) cites the California Democrat Mike Thompson stating that, the about 3000 tons of obsolete electronic items were trown away in the United States, everyday.

Electronic discards affects the Clayton community in two important ways a) the availability of space in landfills and warehouses for storing the discarded products, b) the environment because of the potential leak of toxins such as lead, chromium, and mercury into the atmosphere c) water contamination too may take place as the toxins dissolve in landfills (Research from University of Florida cited in Pilot Project 2003, p.2). Environmental Protection Agency has reported that the lead, cadmium, the hexa-valent chromium, found in CRTs cpabale of causing nervous problems and mental retardation in children, are carcinogenic, and may cause high blood pressure (Meyer, El Ella, & Young 2004, p.1). Fortunately for Georgia, there has been no contamination of groundwater due to electronic materials wasting away in landfills (Pilot Project 2003, p.3). However, in a bid to prevent such occurrence, the General Assembly of Georgia has reckoned the necessity to include in the Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Act, "to develop and assist in the establishment of pilot programs and ongoing programs for the recycling and proper disposal of computer equipment.

" (Code Section 12-8-33.1) It is the aim of EFEWROPS to join hands with the state, with the support of the community to take positive preventive measures to minimize pollution and all its related problems. This program is necessary because, it is likely to affect the health of 267,966 people (Wikipedia 2007) - the population of Clayton County (2005 Census estimate, see Table 1). One of the County Council member has kindly agreed to make available his old warehouse in Jonesboro, for the good cause, until a permanent place is fixed with the help of the concerned authorities.

While other parts of Georgia like the Hall County, Floyd County and Athens-Clarke County have been covered by the