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Consider the computer that sits on your office desk is loaded with hazardous materials. There is copper in transformers, platinum and cobalt in disk drives, cadmium and zinc on video screens and lead solder on circuit boards and in monitor glass - just to list the most known constituents. Handling discarded computers like household waste - either by dumping or incineration - can lead to emissions of dangerous pollutants. Therefore an old computer is not something you should throw into the trash.
Computer waste is just one contributor to the electronic trash problem. Hundreds of thousands of television sets, printers and other office equipments are being declared obsolete yearly in Hungary (current estimation is 100 thousands of metric tons per year). Many of them are just geather dust in garages, cellars and garrets - but sooner or later it must happen getting rid of them.
Printed circuit boards have precious metals that worth recovering, but due to the costs of equipment dismantling and environmentally safe placement of hazardous materials the recycling process often ends up in overall loss. Recycling costs have to be financed by consumers - and they already do it in several European countries in form of a visible fee they pay when buying a new equipment. Similar responsibility should be born by producers - after all they can do the most for the sake of reduction of harmful materials used in these devices. The principle of this shared responsibility can be recognised in the legislation of several EU countries and also in the directive of the Parliament and Council of the European Union (see WEEE Directive).
According to this manufacturers and importers of electric and electronic devices will be obliged to take back their end-of-life products and ensure their environmentally peaceful afterlife. On the other hand consumers should also do their best: with the help of local authorities they have to submit their EOL equipments to retailers or assigned collecting places.
With this site www.elektrohulladek.hu we aim to maintain a source of information where one can find some useful tips on how to care for End-of-Life electric and electronic equipments while being fair to the environment.
This site is primary for the Hungarian public, consequently pages
read Hungarian language - we kindly ask for your empathy. Would you need any additional information or practical advise, please do not hesitate turning directly to our company
Inter-Metalex that is an acknowledged expert on e-waste recycling in Hungary.
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