All the cellphones and computers and electrical devices that people use eventually need discarding. But where? How?
Some countries predict that their electronic waste, or e-waste, could increase by as much as 500 percent during the next decade.
E-waste includes printers, mobile phones, pagers, digital photo and music devices, refrigerators, toys, televisions and more. These electronics are made with extremely hazardous materials such as lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium and polyvinyl chlorides, which could seep into water sources, contaminate the soil and pollute the air. In 2008, Americans alone generated 3.16 million tons of e‐waste. Of this amount, only 13.6 percent was recycled.
This month, in honor of Earth Day, you can do your part to increase this percentage by recycling your own e-waste. There are many local Studio City businesses that accept e-waste for recycling, including:
: 11847 Ventura Blvd.; 818-980-2453; accepting cellphones, compact fluorescent light bulbs, NiCad batteries, rechargeable batteries.
: 11211 Ventura Blvd.; 818-760-4414; accepting desktop computers, monitors, laptops, printers/scanners/fax, toner cartridges, cellphones.
: 12346 Ventura Blvd.; 818-766-0046; accepting cellphones and batteries.
: 12511 Ventura Blvd.; 818-506-1012; accepting cellphones.
