Mass. Bans Dumping of Video Monitors

greenspun.com : LUSENET : TB2K spinoff uncensored : One Thread

http://store.cadvision.com/accounts/news/h_I_3.asp

Sat Apr 1, 8:34 am

Massachusetts bans dumping of video monitors

Massachusetts has a new law that bans the dumping of old video monitors.

State officials say they are trying to head off a potential flood of toxic electronic junk from computer screens and televisions.

They estimate that people are throwing out 75,000 tons of electronic equipment into landfills every year.

But the circuit boards and batteries inside computers contain toxic heavy metals.

Officials are trying to encourage recycling instead of disposal.

-- viewer (justp@ssing.by), April 01, 2000

Answers

Encouraging recycling is laudable, but unless a viable market exists for used video monitors or their components, the government of Massachusetts may have simply shifted the burden of disposal without really addressing it.

-- David L (bumpkin@dnet.net), April 01, 2000.

They're good for shotgun practice. Take them out in the desert and blow them to smithereens.

-- Hawk (flyin@high.again), April 01, 2000.

Great idea, Hawk. I imagine that would be an effective stress reliever too ("Take THAT, Mr. Gates!").

-- David L (bumpkin@dnet.net), April 01, 2000.

Lol David, I bet some guy with a skeet shooting range could make a lot of money if he built a catapult that could "launch" the monitors about 100 feet in the air. Charge maybe $2 or $3 per launch. :-)

-- Hawk (flyin@high.again), April 01, 2000.

Electronic equipment does contain numerous heavy metals and lead. Dumped in landfills they leach into the ground water. If not recycled the stuff should be buried in hazardous waste dumps.

-- John (littmannj@aol.com), April 02, 2000.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ