Before I started this project, I noticed unused computers are being thrown away for garbage collection instead of sending them for recycling program in many subdivisions. This project came to my mind when I saw a computer at one of our neighbored resident garbage collection point. I noticed the same in other neighboring subdivisions a couple of months back. Even at our house we had two unused monitors and one computer. I asked the garbage collection people about what happens after garbage collection. I was told that all collected electronics from garbage collection, including computers, are land-filled. I researched this topic and found many more intriguing facts about it. I found that many companies that offer recycling options aren’t free. At the community level electronics recycling is still a relatively new in many cities. Government plays a key role in the electronics recycling industry by establishing policies and overseeing the activities involved in the recycling process. Unfortunately, only a handful of state and municipal governments are experimenting with ways to keep computers out of the waste stream.

One way to prevent waste and utilize unused items for proper use is by building awareness in the community and try to make use of them (with refurbishing) until those items are no longer for use. Many computers are built in a way that allows them to be repaired or upgraded, which means they can be reused. With little effort, these computers can be as good as the PCs currently on the market. Color cathode ray tubes (CRTs) found in computer monitors fail the hazardous waste characteristic for lead (contain levels of lead that constitute a hazardous waste) and may pose a human health hazard if improperly managed or disposed. Individually, a CRT may contain from 4 to 8 pounds of lead (DEQ). Many of the things we currently throw away could be reused again and again with just a little thought and imagination.

Community Recycling Campaign:
One way to reduce the amount of eWaste that is trashed/ land filled is recycling. Recycling makes a positive contribution to the global conservation of energy and recycling programs are growing across the United States. Recycling is important for social, economic, and environmental reasons. Though many recycling programs are available in cities, but there is always a gap in public awareness on how to best use the recycling programs. One way to close this gap is to continue raise awareness of recycling in the public.

Paper Waste
I also noticed that in some of our friend’s houses, shops, and streets people trash newspapers, instead of keeping them in a trash separator for recycling. About 10 million tons of newsprint is thrown away in the USA each year. 10 million tons, that’s hard to visualize. Recycling newspaper can save 34-60% of the total energy needed for virgin newsprint. With recycling just one newspaper saves 600 kHz of energy, 71 gallons of oil, 7000 gallons of water and 15 trees (EPA).

Plastic Pollution:
Plastics are used because they are easy and cheap to make and they can last a long time. Unfortunately these same useful qualities can make plastic a huge pollution problem. Because the plastic is cheap it gets discarded easily and its persistence in the environment can do great harm. Plastic thrown on land can enter into drainage lines and chokes them resulting into floods in local areas in cities. It was claimed in one of the programs on TV Channel that eating plastic bags results in death of 100 cattle per day in U.P. in India. In stomach of one dead cow, as much as 35 kg of plastic was found. Because plastic does not decompose, and requires high energy ultra-violet light to break down, the amount of plastic waste in our oceans is steadily increasing. More than 90% of the articles found on the sea beaches contained plastic. The plastic rubbish found on beaches near urban areas tends to originate from use on land, such as packaging material used to wrap around other goods (Jogdand, rediff).

On remote rural beaches the rubbish tends to have come from ships, such as fishing equipment used in the fishing industry. This plastic can affect marine wildlife in two important ways: by entangling creatures, and by being eaten. Turtles are particularly badly affected by plastic pollution, and all seven of the world's turtle species are already either endangered or threatened for a number of reasons. A recent US report concluded that more than 100000 marine mammals die each year in the world's oceans by eating or becoming entangled in plastic rubbish, and the position is worsening World-wide, 75 marine bird species are known to eat plastic articles. This includes 36 species found off South Africa. A recent study of blue petrel chicks at South Africa's remote Marion Island showed that 90% of chicks examined had plastic in their stomachs apparently fed to them accidentally by their parents. South African seabirds are among the worst affected in the world. Plastics may remain in the stomachs, blocking digestion and possibly causing starvation (Jogdand, rediff).