How To Recycle Electronic Waste!

Electronic waste, or “e-waste”, is waste consisting of any broken or unwanted electrical or electronic appliance. It’s been estimated that a person keeps their laptop for just 3 years before buying a new one and cell phones are generally replaced and disposed of within just 24 months.

It’s important that people recycle their electronic equipment rather than junk the devices in the trash, which then ends up in a land fill. Many computer parts contain toxic substances such as mercury and lead, which bleed into our underground water supplies, harming the environments and our health. Through recycling e-waste, we eliminate those risks by properly disposing of the hazardous materials.

Since electronics are made up of diverse materials such as plastics and metals, they are more difficult to recycle then simple products like glass and paper. However, that doesn’t mean they’re not worth the trouble of recycling. Electronic waste is a valuable source of secondary raw materials!

Electronics contain valuable metals, like copper and gold which cost a lot to produce. Recycling helps to ensure that less energy is used in producing new metals and that our reserves are not depleted as quickly. You can take your electronic products to a recycling center, a good option when the equipment is broken and no longer useable. Companies will then recycle the glass, plastic and metals and use them for the next generation of electronics.

The Electronics Industries Alliance (EIA) has created numerous programs which help in recycling computers and other electronic equipment. Many schools, charities, underprivileged groups, church programs and monasteries, (just to name a few), benefit from these programs. This helps both the environment and the community!

Almost 99 percent of an electronic product can be recycled. That means only a small amount is actually waste ending in a landfill. It’s time we become responsible and accountable for our actions, especially when it comes to e-waste recycling. However you choose to recycle your electronics, the bottom line is, you should!

For information on e-waste recycling programs and green electronics, visit this website. It’s a really great site! http://www.mygreenelectronics.org