Eco groups draw up 6-point plan vs e-waste

Two ecological groups drew up a six-point plan to minimize electronic waste (e-waste) to cope with the expected rise in the purchase of consumer electronics as the school year starts. One of the groups, the EcoWaste Coalition, said the six points show that the solution to the e-waste problem is in the people’s hands. “Although we are bombarded by e-wastes from within the Philippines and from outside, we can take action now. Choosing the right products, prohibiting toxic e-waste and not burning or dumping e-waste are sensible solutions to the e-waste crisis," Richard Gutierrez, executive director of Ban Toxics, the other group that drew up the six-point plan, said in an article posted on EcoWaste’s blog site. The ecological groups organized a forum where participants suggested steps that consumers can take to minimize e-waste. The six points are: 1. Research. Know which companies produce safe and environmentally sustainable electronic gadgets. Visit websites such as those set up by Greenpeace particularly their Guide to Greener Electronics, a guide that ranks the top electronics manufacturers according to their policies on toxics, recycling, and climate change. 2. Purchase electronics that have the “RoHS" logo. This means that the equipment complies with the European Union’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances directive which means these do not contain mercury, lead, cadmium, chromium, polybrominated biphenyls, and polybrominated biphenyl ethers – common toxins found in electronic gadgets. 3. Buy energy-efficient electronic products. Look for the Energy Star or the energy efficiency ratio (EER). 4. Look for brands with good warranty and take-back policies. 5. Go for quality, not quantity. Avoid buying very cheap items in bulk. Most of these items will wear out after a few months. 6. Look for electronics with rechargeable rather than disposable batteries. According to the eco groups, e-waste contains toxic chemicals that are added to various parts of the electronic product. Phthalates, brominated flame retardants (BFR) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are often added to gadgets’ plastic housing and electrical wiring. “Aside from possibly damaging the liver, lungs and kidney, phthalates are also suspected to cause infertility in males. On the other hand, both BFR and PVC are cancer-causing substances," they said. "In addition, poisonous metals like mercury and lead, both of which damage the nervous system and cause developmental disorders, are found in some television and computer screens," they added. Short film Ban Toxics and EcoWaste, with financial support from the Foundation for the Philippine Environment, developed a short film entitled “the Vanishing E-Wastes of the Philippines," that talks about the e-waste problem in the country and launched a nationwide network called e-Waste Action Now (e-WAN). The e-WAN network includes groups such as Ang Nars, Arugaan, Ban Toxics, Cavite Green Coalition, Concerned Citizens’ Organization Advocating for Philippine Environmental Sustainability, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, Greenpeace Southeast Asia, Interface Development Interventions, Kinaiyahan Foundation, Office of the Committee on Parks and Playground, Wildlife, Ecology and Environmental Management of Cebu City Council, and the Philippine Earth Justice Center. “E-waste is an urgent topic of concern, especially for countries such as the Philippines, where discarded electronics from countries such as Japan and South Korea are exported as secondhand goods," Gutierrez said. He added e-Wastes contain toxic substances which may be released through improper use and recycling. “It’s our responsibility to make sure that we don’t add to the growing mountain of e-waste in the country by buying gadgets which may potentially harm both human health and the environment," he said. EcoWaste coordinator there must be a need for correct information to be available and made accessible before anyone can take action. “The complexity of the e-waste problem presented many challenges and we had to capture the nuances in this short film in order for people to understand the issue," he said. - VVP, GMA News