WEEE...?

WEEE...?

Much people don’t know what’s the meaning of “WEEE”. Despite the ignorance of the population, the “WEEE” cause problems which start to worry the society.

“WEEE” is an abbreviation of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment.
There are several categories of electrical and electronic equipment. Some examples are refrigerators, radiators, washing and drying machines, tools of air conditioning, toasters, smooth irons, computers, mouses, keyboards, phone cell telephones, printers, radio and TV sets, video cameras, compact fluorescent lamps, borers, gardening tools, blood pressure measurers, smoke detectors, etc.
Attention: incandescent, halogen, infrared lamps and leds are not recyclable.
Concentrating these residues on scrap hills or inadequately incinerating them, negative environmental effects take place. These residues contain both toxic chemicals and heavy metals (mercury, cadmium, copper, lead and aluminium), which contaminate the soils and the subterranean waters.
When these residues are incinerated, toxic substances, namely chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) are thrown into the atmosphere. These substances are responsible for the destruction of the ozone layer. Contaminating water, soil and the air brings the development of diseases among the population, changes in the ecosystems, biodiversity, climate and natural resources.
All these equipments must be submitted to special treatments, performed by specialized units. Recycling must be done minimizing environmental impacts and on the public health.

People must reduce the residues and promote their reutilisation and recycling.
In Europe new measures are taken in order to stimulate the population to make a good management of the WEEE.
In Portugal we have the Project Electron Dot, promoted by Amb3E (Portuguese Association of WEEE management), an initiative that aims the gathering and deposit of the WEEE in appropriated places, with the engagement of the Portuguese schools. It is proposed to the consumer to devolve the wasted equipment in the shop, to deposit it into the
Electron Dot, directly on the Reception Centres or soliciting the Town Hall services to take it away.

We hope that everybody contribute, using the starting of new companies for specific recycling for these type of residues, and having the conscience of the consequences of non recycling.
Accumulating computers and old cell phones in the store-room or putting them into the trash is a wrong behaviour and risk of environmental contamination is high.

Be Ecological – Recycle your electronic wast

Authors: Ana Marta Tavares nº2, 9ºE (2008/2009) in the class of teacher Dulce Godinho