by Wayne Reeves

Created on: October 26, 2008   Last Updated: October 27, 2008

Taking a walk in the woods, enjoying all that nature has to offer and what do you see? A TV set dumped - the owner now long-gone, probably enjoying their brand new LCD HD experience while the now-forgotten CRT tube dies a slow death abandoned.

It may be a touch over-dramatising the reality but some people still think it's acceptable to dump their defunct technology anywhere they please - rather than disposing of it responsibly by way of recycling. Since the WEEE act (Waste electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive) was written, in the EU (European Union) all electrical items manufactured and sold after January 2007 must be recycled or disposed separately from normal household waste.

In theory, there is nothing wrong in encouraging everyone to recycle outdated items, in the UK alone, according to www.recycle-more.co.uk 1.2 million tonnes of electrical waste is dumped every year. Initiatives to re-use as much as we can are well-meaning but not everyone can easily access these facilities. Not many people in any community will have the slightest idea where their local electrical waste site is - it may be provided but little publicity about it will have seeped into the local consciousness.
You can almost see why people dump things illegally - having to find the money, transport and labour to get rid of unwanted products - it's a last resort when recycling or proper dumping sites are "hidden" in communities.

The major consumer manufacturers are quick enough to build upgrade-upon-upgrade on their products, have advertising budgets that could run a small country for decades - when it comes to disposing of them though they are sorely lacking. At no point in the advertising, purchasing or life of the product are you encouraged by them personally on how to throw it away properly. Having small-print about the WEEE directive on the back of product manuals isn't sufficient - it might be law but still washes their own hands of any responsibility in the matter.

It shouldn't be all on the consumer to be rid of these items (at their own expense) - the manufacturers are using whatever means and resources to make these products - they should also have a recycling process installed to enable their man-made junk to be returned to them for proper disposal.

The whole idea of recycling will not impact the planet if big business isn't willing to take part - they need to be forced into action now. All of us would like recycling to be a natural aspect of our everyday lives, but until it becomes something we all need to do then those TVs will keep appearing in the woods, what a waste!

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