Hazard Assessment of E-Waste From Desktop Computers

Cathode ray tubes were found to fail the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) test and were classified as hazardous waste but in 2003 other components of computer systems had not been tested or classified. A hazard assessment of e-waste from desktop computers was done to determine which D- List component would cause them to be managed as hazardous waste. The quantitative trace analytical method of SW-846 was applied to determine if analytes were hazardous. Analysis was conducted by Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) and/or Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FLAA). Desktop computer system components failed TCLP due to silver, lead, barium (except mother board), cadmium, and chromium. This book therefore includes suggestions to CEO/Managers charged with providing computer systems and reducing the associated hazardous waste footprint. Suggestions included are: Environmental Management System (EMS); International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 and Executive Order (EO) 13148; with the most effective being an Environmentally Preferable Procurement Program (EPP.