Markets
Business
Investing
Tech
Politics
CNBC TV
Watchlist
Investing Club
PRO

Trash Inc.: The Secret Life of Garbage

Quiz: QUIZ: E-cycling

Question 1 of 10

What type of metal is present in electronics that make them hazardous to dispose of in landfills?

  1. Alkali metals
  2. Heavy metals
  3. Poor metals
  4. Transition metals
Correct!

Electronics are dangerous to dispose of in landfills because they contain heavy metals, such as arsenic, lead and mercury. These metals are known to cause illness in individuals, but the concern goes beyond the individual level --- if these metals were to leak into the ground of a landfill they could penetrate into the earth and eventually contaminate the water supply, causing illness on a large scale.

SOURCE: E-cycling: The Unknown Fate of Our Electronic Waste | Richmond Examiner

Next Question