'Producers have to sell safe products'

In this consumer age, people buy up new television sets, cell phones, VCD/DVD players and upgrade their laptops or computers after dumping everything that is no longer of use. But they may not know that high-tech waste can pose a danger to the environment, and themselves, if it is improperly disposed off. The Jakarta Post asked some residents about how they disposed of electronic devices.

Nurul Ayu, 30, is a research manager at a consultancy firm in Kuningan business district, South Jakarta. She lives in Cempaka Mas apartment, East Jakarta:

I keep my old electronic devices on the shelf. I will give them away for free to those who need them, like the housemaid or rubbish collectors.

I gave my old cell phone to an electricity repairman. He is brilliant, but since he didn't have a cell phone it was difficult for customers to contact him. I also gave my old television set to a relative.

I am concerned about the increasing amount of electronic waste which is difficult to recycle. I usually collect used batteries, which contain heavy metals, and send them back to the producers.

Hikmat Gumilar, 31, is sales manager in a company located at Aldiron Plaza, Pancoran in South Jakarta. He and his family live in Kebayoran Lama, also in South Jakarta:

I now have two broken remote controls and one unused tape recorder. I plan to take the remote controls to the repair shop. If they are beyond repair, the repairman usually buy broken remotes for their components.

I don't change my cell phones often, only the batteries. I used to throw away the old batteries.

I am aware about the mounting electronic waste that is a looming threat to our environment. But I also believe that a lot of high-tech waste is still worth a fortune in Indonesia. You can find anywhere in the capital, and other cities, flea markets selling used TVs, fans, and other second-hand high-tech goods. And they have a lot of customers.

You can also find scavengers eager to collect used batteries in the Bantar Gebang dump for their iron.

Most battery producers no longer use mercury in their products. Producers of electronic appliances, whether its economically feasible or not, should have to change to producing safe products if they want to keep their businesses alive.

--The Jakarta Post