Complete Guide for Recycling e-Waste
E-waste, also known as electronic waste, is any electronic device or component that is no longer functional, needed, or useful to its user. It includes computers, printers, TVs, VCRs, cell phones, fax machines, and more.
The United States is one of the world’s largest producers of electronic devices. In 2012, they generated about 3.4 million tonnes of e-waste. While it’s important to recycle e-waste to conserve our natural resources, it’s also important to do so safely. Improper recycling of e-waste can lead to the release of toxins into the environment.
We all know that recycling is important. It conserves resources, reduces pollution, and helps to create a sustainable world for future generations.
E waste is a growing problem in the world, as electronic devices evolve daily. Every day, new phones, laptops, and electronic gadgets are created.
In the United States alone, it is estimated that over 3 million tonnes of e-waste are generated each year. So, here are reasons why e-waste should be recycled.
1. E-Waste is recycled to conserve resources. It takes a lot of resources to create new electronics. For example, it takes 1.5 tons of water to manufacture a single computer. Recycling e-Waste would help reduce the number of resources used in creating a new electronic device.
2. If e – wast e is not recycled properly, it can release harmful toxins into the air and water. These toxins can then end up in the food we eat and the water we drink.
3. E-waste can be harmful to human health. If people are exposed to e-waste, they can be at risk of various health problems, including respiratory problems, skin problems, and more. So, recycling e-waste would help prevent these problems.
Read Also: How to Recycle Appliance Wastes (Appliance Recycling)
How to Recycle E-waste (e recycling)
As the world becomes more and more digitized, the amount of electronic waste (or e-waste) produced each year is steadily increasing. In 2016, the world generated a total of 44.7 million metric tonnes of e-waste. And by 2021, that number is expected to rise to 52.2 million metric tons.
This is a staggering amount of waste, and it is only increasing as our dependence on electronic devices grows. With the ever-growing amount of e-waste, it is more important than ever to recycle this waste properly.
While recycling e-waste is still a relatively new concept, it’s something that we need to start taking seriously if we want to reduce our impact on the environment. In this guide, we’ll show you everything you need to know about recycling e-waste.
1. Deliver It to Authorized E-waste Recycling Facilities
Sending your e-waste to a certified e-waste recycling facility is one of the best ways to recycle your electronic waste. E-Waste recycling facilities collect this waste, sort it, and process it into a new product.
When it comes to sending your electronic waste to a recycling company, there are different steps involved. The first step in sending your electronic waste to a recycling company is to delete all your files or documents in it.
If you are the kind of person that loves saving personal things on electronic devices, it is advisable to format them all before recycling them. Once this is done, the recycling process begins.
Read Also: 7 Factors to Consider before Setting Up your Farming Business
The recycling process involves sorting out the electronic waste, whether it can be reused or not. If it could not be reused, they smashed it, removing all valuable materials from it for recycling.
In addition, finding a recycling firm is hard for many, but with the help of Google, it is easy to get in touch with these companies right from our homes. In order to find an e-waste recycling facility, you can do so by typing in the keyword “e-waste recycling centre near me”.
2. Refurbished Them
Sometimes recycling this electronic waste into a new product isn’t the best way of disposing of this waste, except if it’s not needed by the public anymore. Refurbishing e-waste entails turning them from unusable electronic gadgets or devices to usable electronic gadgets or devices.
For instance, a laptop fell to the ground and its screen broke. Instead of sending it to a recycling firm, it is advisable to refurbish it. This involves changing the screen into a new one and the laptop starts working.
However, most would prefer to donate them to non-profit organizations or a charity store if they think the laptop won’t be useful to them anymore. Then it’s left for the organization or store to recycle or refurbish.
Additionally, there are more benefits derived from reusing electronic waste or refurbishing it. One of the benefits is economic growth. The reuse of materials and components from outdated or broken electronic devices can help to reduce the cost of these products.
Read Also: How to Generate Recycled Income from Old Cell Phones (Used Phones)
