500 Million Used Cell Phones Pose Threat to Environment

emediawire.com ^

[chance33_98]

Yeah, we're all doomed.

[BadAndy]

So they want to send our discarded death phones to poor brown people who can't afford them and who will throw them into unlined, unmonitored landfills in 3rd world countries. This will increase the poverty and pollution in these countries. What a racist plan by the watermelon brigade.

[Fierce Allegiance]

seriously (and i am no enviro freak by any means) all the batterias we dispose from tools and phones, etc, contain nasty heavy metals in the Nicad and nimh.

They in turn make leachate in landfills, which, while well engineered, will eventually leak. Once free, they can be a real bitch to remove from water sources, etc.

The threat is clearly not as bad as some say, but still present.

[You Dirty Rats]

Poisoning from landfills kills millions every years. We're all going to die!

Pollution from solid waste is the most overrated health threat out there. More money is wasted fixing problems in this area than perhaps any other. Landfills with cell phones a health risk -- gimme a break!

[Fierce Allegiance]

never though about that. OH well, as long as WE have clean drinking water, i guess.

[South40]

+ = We are doomed!!!!!

[Poohbah]

Yeah, we're all doomed.

Ping.

[Rummyfan]

Doomed!!! This is series - and hugh too!

[RS]

"We knew that cell phones could be repaired and recycled, rather than tossed into the waste system. We now have the means to put old phones to good use in less fortunate countries, and protect our environment at the same time,” said Mosieur. "

Funny, their website REQUIRES that the phone be in working condition. "means to put old phones to good use" seems to mean "we can make a buck by being the middleman".

Don't take me wrong, it's great that someone can make a buck by palming off our garbage on less fortunate countries, but don't make it sound like they are doing someone a big favor ...

[Guillermo]

Yeah, but will THEY give up their cel phones?

LOL, not on your life pal.

[azhenfud]

"Don't take me wrong, it's great that someone can make a buck by palming off our garbage on less fortunate countries, but don't make it sound like they are doing someone a big favor..."

Okay. Send all your blown light bulbs to me and we'll repackage and resell them as dark bulbs.

[redhead]

"seriously (and i am no enviro freak by any means) all the batterias we dispose from tools and phones, etc, contain nasty heavy metals in the Nicad and nimh. They in turn make leachate in landfills, which, while well engineered, will eventually leak. Once free, they can be a real bitch to remove from water sources, etc."

Simple. scoop up some sand, put it into a retort, melt it, add phones, pour into ingots. When cooled into glass ingots, bury. No leakage.

[The Bard]

You know, my SUV has a built in cell phone... I guess that makes it twice as bad!

[South40]

You know, my SUV has a built in cell phone... I guess that makes it twice as bad!

Of course. It also, in the eyes of the enviro-wacko pus-bags out there, makes you twice as evil.

I drive a Jeep and use a cell phone daily...so count me in.

[Fierce Allegiance]

The materials in the batteries are recyclable, although vitirifcation is a great disposal method for nuke waste. deep well disposal. all gone!

[MD_Willington_1976]

Nah...they'll just end up as timing/triggering devices for detonators...

[Gorzaloon]

We now have the means to put old phones to good use in less fortunate countries, and protect our environment at the same time,” said Mosieur. "

Funny, their website REQUIRES that the phone be in working condition. "means to put old phones to good use" seems to mean "we can make a buck by being the middleman".

They need them to remotely detonate explosives.

[Gorzaloon]

Hey you type faster than I do!

[Texas_Dawg]

If the Mexican Invasion doesn't get us, the cell phones surely will.

We're all doomed.^{®2004 Texas_Dawg Productions, Inc.}

[RightWhale]

Toxic cell phones? The plastic? The batteries? The strange beeping melodies coming out of landfills in the dark of night?