VARIETY

What happens to e-waste?

Environmental pollution is a topic that is in great focus today especially due to the prevailing climatic conditions experienced in most parts of the world. One aspect of pollution that we are all struggling to find solutions, especially in our country is the disposal of garbage.

Garbage is everywhere;by the roadsides, bare land areas,in water bodies, beaches and inside drains.There are mounds of it polluting vast areas too as there aren't enough recycling plants or landfills to get rid of the garbage collected from households.

When we think of garbage we usually think of the kitchen refuse and other waste we simply throw into the bin. Are you aware of another form of environmental pollution known as e- waste or electronic waste? Perhaps none of you would have bothered to wonder where all the broken electronic equipment end up...What really happens to all the televisions, computers,dvds,vcds,electrical home appliances and mobiles?

With the advent of the electronic age, and especially the introduction of television, computers and mobile phones to our country, the amount of e-waste is definitely on the increase .

It is in this connection that the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) together with 14 other private companies in the field of Information Technology,telecommunication and electronic equipment have launched a national programme for e -waste management. This programme which has been in operation since November 2010 aims to have a e -waste free Sri Lanka. It is believed that this all island programme will help minimise the adverse impact of e- waste and promote sustainable management in order to achieve a greener environment. Did you know that through two e-waste collecting programmes in the Colombo metropolitan alone about eight tonnes of e- waste had been collected for two days?You too can hand in your e waste to these centres without cluttering the environment. If you know of any e-waste collecting centres nearby, hand them your e-waste or call 1919 for more information.

It is important to think on terms of eco-firendly practices and the numerous measures taken by the CEA such as the innovative programme of Green Awards which will be held at the BMICH on August 23.

Many industries working not only with electronics but also other materials which impact the environment are encouraged to apply for the green awards. The government and local government institutes and schools too which conduct environmental pioneer programmes are eligible. So, if your school has not already entered or is too late to do so this year, try to become eligible next time. The CEA has also set up an Environmental Resources Info Data Base under it to guide the country towards sustainable development.

*****************

Recycling e-waste

Electronic waste, e-waste, e-scrap, or Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) describes loosely discarded, surplus, obsolete, or broken electrical or electronic devices. Informal processing of electronic waste in developing countries causes serious health and pollution problems. Some electronic scrap components, such as CRTs, contain contaminants such as lead, cadmium, beryllium, mercury, and brominated flame retardants. Disposal of e-waste may involve significant risk to workers and communities and great care must be taken to avoid unsafe exposure in recycling operation heavy metals from landfills and incinerator ashes. Materials should be managed with caution, and environmental dangers of unused electronics have not been exaggerated.

*****************

Fossil of prehistoric marine reptile found

Alaska scientists have discovered the fossil of a rare, prehistoric marine reptile that is likely the most complete remnant of the creature ever found in North America.

The nearly complete fossilized skeleton is of a thalattosaur, a long-tailed sea creature that plied warm, shallow waters in the early days of dinosaurs and became extinct at the end of the Triassic period some 200 million years ago.The discovery of the fossil, found during an extreme low tide along the shore of the Tongass National Forest, was announced recently by the Museum of the North at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks.

Geologists had been conducting field surveys at the site when the fossil was spotted.Unlike most thalattosaur discoveries, which are fossilized remnants of individual bones and bone fragments, this specimen appeared to be a nearly full skeleton."In North America, this may be the Scientists excavated the fossil in June and have been studying it to determine whether it represents a previously unknown species.

There are only about a dozen full thalattosaur specimens in the world.

The find is likely the most northern discovery as well. The fossil was found near the Tlingit Indian village of Kake in southeast Alaska.

Other thalattosaur discoveries have been made in British Columbia, Canada, as well as in Nevada and the Alps, though the best finds have been made in China.

The fossil from the Tongass beach is now at the Museum of the North, where scientists will do further work to separate the rock from the bone.

Thalattosaurs inhabited the seas for about 30 million years, a relatively brief time geologically, said Pat Druckenmiller, Earth sciences curator for the Museum of the North. They measured about three to 10 feet long, with half to a third of that taken up by the tail. Some had no teeth, some had pointy teeth that might have been useful for spearing fish, and some had flat teeth that might have been used to crush shells, Druckenmiller said.

The Alaska fossil appears to include the outline of soft-body tissue that surrounded the bone.

Scientists will return to the site later to try to excavate the rest of the fossil, still embedded in beach rock.

Courtesy: Reuters