Reference no: EM133676273
Assignment:
E-waste is also referred to as waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Solid waste has become a very complex problem in terms of collection, storage, recycling, and disposal. Handling e-waste is an international issue experienced by developed and developing countries alike. Consider the ubiquitous cell phone, which has valuable materials such as plastics, gold, silver, and platinum; it also contains toxic materials like lead, mercury, and cadmium. For both reasons, throwing cell phones away in a landfill is a waste and a hazard.
You may want to visit the EPA site on Sustainable Management of Electronics before you begin answering the following questions in your main discussion board post.
1. Do you think that when computers, TVs, cell phones, batteries, and other forms of electronic devices become e-waste at the end of their useful lives, manufacturers should be required to take them back for repair, remanufacture, reuse, or recycling in a manner that is environmentally responsible and that does not threaten the health of recycling workers or scavengers? Explain your answer by providing at least three arguments for or against it.
2. Would you be willing to pay more for these products to cover the costs of such a take-back program? If yes, what percentage above the purchase price would you be willing to pay for electronic products? Justify your answer.
3. Find an example of one of the following and provide a narrative description that includes details relating to e-waste, collection, storage, recycling, and/or disposal:
- A company that has an e-waste policy
- An incident involving the improper handling or disposal of e-waste
- Any country law or treaty that addresses e-waste
4. Provide proper references for any material you use from primary sources.