Short for electronic waste. The term e-waste is applied to all waste
caused by discarding electronic devices, especially
consumer electronics. E-waste is a major
concern in areas of personal computing and
wireless devices that are quickly discarded by
consumers. The lifespan of these electronics are short-lived due to rapid
technological advances and lower costs to purchase
each year. Consumers generally buy new instead of reusing because their
electronic device quickly becomes obsolete or it may be cheaper to purchase new.
Inkjet printers are one example of a common
e-waste problem as consumers believe they can save money to purchase a new
printer with ink than to buy ink refill for their old one.
National Recycling Coalition's Electronics Recycling Initiative The goal of the NRC's Electronics Recycling Initiative is to promote the recovery, reuse and recycling of obsolete electronic equipment, and to encourage the design, manufacture and purchase of environmentally responsible electronic equipment.
Wired News: Dark Side of Digital Age The United States generates more e-waste than any other nation, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. More than 4.6 million tons of it entered U.S. landfills in 2000, and that amount is projected to grow fourfold in the next few years.
