Ecologue

Time for our Question of the Week!

The first person to respond with the correct answer will win a reusable 20 oz. OSU water bottle.

Submit your answer here (“Leave a Reply,” below) or on our Facebook page. Only one post per person, please.

Question of the Week

E-waste is defined as any discarded electronics, and represents 2% of the trash in landfills. How much of the overall toxic waste does it account for?

Answer

While e-waste only represents 2% of America’s trash in landfills, it makes up 70% of the overall toxic waste.

E-waste contains many toxic chemicals, including lead, mercury, arsenic, beryllium, and cadmium. Between 80 to 85% of electronics are discarded in landfills or incinerators.

Materials Management is currently hiring an E-Waste Project Coordinator to help with its goal of becoming e-Stewards certified by April 2015. E-Stewards is a worldwide recognized standard for organizations who dispose electronic waste responsibly. Click here to learn more about the e-Stewards certification.

And congratulations to Seema Mangla for winning this week’s Question!