Re: [asa] Ban on computers reportedly wanted

Michael writes:

<Behind the humour there are some serious points. Is there anything you
or anyone else can do which doesn't pollute? Even suicide wont help! >

Thanks for the encouraging word!

I can't add anything to the discussion on the amount of resources needed
and pollution created during the manufacture of computers but I can add
some information about the types and amounts of resources locked up in
your computer. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collects data for almost
all mineral commodities (metals, hydrocarbons, industrial minerals,
mineral fertilizers, and even sand & gravel) that are mined, stockpiled,
used, recycled, or discarded worldwide. Most of these data are locked
away in annually published tomes of Mineral Commodity Reports but
occasionally parts are summarized into easily-digested, 4-page Fact
Sheets. I know of two Fact Sheets, available on-line, that I may be of
interest to this discussion.

The first one is "Obsolete Computers, 'Gold Mine,' or High-Tech Trash?"
found at <http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/fs060-01/> and the second is "Recycled
Cell Phones--A Treasure Trove of Valuable Metals" at
<http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2006/3097/>.

Just a few highlights from these two reports ...

- One metric ton (t) of electronic scrap from personal computers(PCs)
contains more gold than that recovered from 17 t of average-grade gold
ore.

- Metals in PCs commonly include aluminum, antimony*, arsenic*, barium,
beryllium, cadmium*, chromium*, cobalt*, copper, gallium, gold, iron,
lead*, manganese, mercury*, palladium, platinum, selenium*, silver, and
zinc. Metals identified with a * are regulated as hazardous materials and
US Federal laws restrict the dispositions of these materials into the
waste stream. (Personal note: US laws require businesses, government
agencies, and schools to use proper hazardous waste disposal practices but
does not restrict individuals from throwing this stuff into their
household trash. Local regulations may or may not be more stringent on
hazardous waste in household trash.)

- It was estimated that 73% of computers disposed of in 2005 were
recycled. The remaining 27% (estimated 55 million computers) went
directly to landfills.

- Mining companies have joined electronic manufacturing companies to
recycle computers and other electronics. Recyclable materials are
considered to be an important feed for certain smelters, as essential as
ore concentrates to the operational profitability.

- A significant fraction of electronic waste is shipped to other countries
to be recycled. These countries often have less strict environmental
regulations (or less enforcement) on the disposal of the nonreusable
portion of hazardous waste materials.

- An estimated 779 million cell phones were purchased worldwide in 2005.
On average, cell phones are only used 1.5 years before being replaced.

- Less than 1% of cell phones retired and discarded annually are recycled.

- In 2005, about 130 million cell phones were retired. At an average of
113 grams each, this pile of cell phones would weigh 14,000 metric tons.
It is estimated that in 2005, another 500 million (56,000 t) obsolete cell
phones were simply stored in drawers or closets.

- 14,000 t of cell phones contain 2,100 t copper, 46 t silver, 3.9 t gold,
2 t palladium, 0.04 t platinum: Total value for these 5 metals (using
average 2002-2004 metal prices) is $82 million US.

Steve
_____________
 Steven M. Smith, Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey
 Box 25046, M.S. 973, DFC, Denver, CO 80225
 Office: (303)236-1192, Fax: (303)236-3200
 Email: smsmith@usgs.gov
 -USGS Nat'l Geochem. Database NURE HSSR Web Site-
  http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1997/ofr-97-0492/

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Received on Fri Apr 6 13:31:32 2007