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Old gadgets create recycling conundrum
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GEORGE Hu, a hard-core gadget lover, has tried to restrain his desire for the latest cell phone after finding a pile of old models at home.
The 42-year-old Shanghai native has a large collection of unused cell phones, tablet computers, digital cameras and memory sticks, as well as their chargers and batteries.
“I don’t want to sell them too cheaply to peddlers, but they are not presentable gifts either,” says the marketing manager at a large travel agency.
Hu represents China’s increasingly affluent consumers, who are keen to upgrade their electronics but lack knowledge of how to properly handle old products that contain potentially dangerous metals.
The end-of-life goods often escape safe handling as their owners leave them at home, sell them to unlicensed collectors or simply discard inexpensive accessories such as batteries.
Recycling and disposal of small electronic goods have become a growing malady for China. Experts and business owners say the problem is in part due to the absence of government support, though subsidy programs were in place for the recycling of bigger electronic items such as televisions and refrigerators.
Hazards and value
Earlier this month, Premier Li Keqiang “declared war” on water, soil and air pollution in his first government work report at the annual session of the National People’s Congress.
While the public applauded the leader’s gesture, many have no idea that their cool gadgets can also be polluters.
Lithium batteries for cell phones, laptops and other electronic goods contain heavy metals like cobalt, nickel and copper, which can have negative environmental and health impacts if they are dumped carelessly, according to experts.
The heavy metals, which do not break down over time, can contaminate underground water. The substances, when accumulated in the human body, may trigger blood diseases and renal failure.
Although there are no precise data on how many small electronic goods reach the end of their lives every year in China, a 2013 report issued by the Solving the E-Waste Problem Initiative — a partnership of UN organizations, industry, governments, non-government and science organizations — showed that China put the highest volume of electrical and electronic equipment on the market in 2012 with 11.1 million tons, followed by the US at 10 million tons.
According to the report, the US generated the largest total volume of electronics waste per year at 9.4 million tons in 2012. China generated the second-highest amount at 7.3 million tons.
However, end-of-life gadgets can be valuable if recycled and technologies are mature, says Chen Xuexin, secretary general of the Shanghai Waste Material Recycling Association. For example, the content of cobalt in a battery is 15 percent, far higher than the 3.7 percent in the ore.
In addition, precious metals such as gold, silver, palladium and tin can be extracted from the circuit boards of cell phones.
Stumbling block
Recycling companies are not blind to the economic potential of recycling small electronics, but they complain the business is not cost-effective without government subsidies.
Since July 2012, the government has begun to collect funds from manufacturers and importers of TV sets, refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners and computers to subsidize licensed recycling companies. However, disposal of small electronic items is not included in the subsidy program.
In China, waste electronic goods collection has grown into a full-fledged underground economy. Small businesses that lack sophisticated infrastructure and expertise strip down the goods to recover components for second-hand equipment or to harvest valuable metals and raw materials.
They often soak circuit boards, a major polluter, in strong acid that can contaminate the air and water, says one manager, requesting anonymity.
Alex Geng, a 29-year-old hotel receptionist who updates his cell phone frequently, prefers selling his old handsets. He usually gets around half of the original price.
“Most of the phones are quite new and deserve a good price,” Geng says.
Mobile collectors, electrical appliance fixers and moving companies are all among the major recycling channels near residential neighborhoods. Most of the appliances will go to the second-hand market or unqualified recycling companies. Only a few may end up being recycled properly.
Solutions
Recyclers’ calls for government support to dispose of small electronics have been heard. The National Development and Reform Commission is considering adding cell phones, batteries, printers, copiers, scanners and fluorescent lamps to the government recycling and safe disposal subsidy program.
The draft proposal was made public in December by the commission to solicit opinions for one month.
In addition to motivating licensed recycling companies with funds, some small business owners suggested retailers offer “old-for-new” services to boost the recovery of small electronic goods.
Consumers can also help, says Angela Huang, a private business owner who takes regular business trips overseas.
“In China, it’s rather difficult to find a formal channel to hand in used electronic items,” she says, hoping that the government will place bins exclusively for the disposal of small gadgets around the city, as do some developed countries.
(Xinhua)
Zhang Qian contributed to this story
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