SOUNDING OFF:Plug into electronic waste rules

I have lived in Orange County since 1978, and I have a medium-sized firm that collects and recycles all electronic waste.

I am called periodically by cities to pick up discarded personal computers, monitors, microwave ovens and all sorts of other “e-waste” that has been recklessly discarded by citizens in every town in this county.

First off, it is illegal since 2003 to discard any electronic waste outside of an approved collector/recycler. Secondly, the environmental impact of electronic waste and universal waste is as hazardous as any poison that is clearly marked.

Manufacturers do not mark computers as hazardous, but the federal government and the state recognize the environmental and health impacts of discarded electronic waste with all the lead, plastic, metals and a host of other chemicals that can easily reach young people, animals, soils and the ocean without the proper handling.

There are few cities in my opinion that are proactive regarding this issue, but since 2003 — which seems like just yesterday — more information needs to be addressed to the citizenry in order to eliminate the soaring deposits and warehouses full of this “scrap.”

Rapid developments in computer power results in a 1-year-old computer being obsolete in the day-to-day business/residential market. So where do those estimated 20 million units go?

Let’s get our people educated and thinking about recycling. It is very easy.