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January 20, 2009
BY BILL THEOBALD
Gannett News Service
WASHINGTON - Environmentalists fear that next month's switch to digital television broadcasting could cause a flood of old televisions, and the toxins they contain, to be tossed in the trash.
But electronics industry officials counter that these fears are overblown and that there are plenty of ways for people to continue to use their old TVs or to properly recycle them.
Both sides agree that the issue of electronic waste is likely to get more attention as the Feb. 17 switchover approaches and that federal legislation is needed to deal with the growing problem, of which televisions are just a small part.
"There is a tsunami of e-waste that is going to be created," said Barbara Kyle, national coordinator of the Electronics TakeBack Coalition, which includes environmental groups. "This is the largest government-sponsored planned obsolescence event in history."
Kyle said tube televisions are a particular problem because they contain between 4 to 8 pounds of lead, which is difficult to extract because much of it is in glass.
Besides lead, federal health officials warn that televisions also contain cadmium, beryllium and other dangerous substances. Exposure to high levels of lead can damage the nervous system and other organs.
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> Click here to access the full article on The Coloradoan website.
For more information on Tides Center project Electronics TakeBack Coalition, see www.computertakeback.com.
