Electronics are one of the fastest growing waste streams, and it makes sense; as new phone models and new features roll out faster and faster, and as the life of our gadgets get shorter, we almost have too much that we know what to do with.
Naturally, the easiest way to dispose of your ever-growing electronics pile may seem to be straight from the junk-drawer to the trash can, along with the other items you no longer need, but, unfortunately, that’s where you’d be wrong. Electronics don’t belong in a landfill due to their hazardous materials as well as potential security compromises.
Recycling your devices, whether through trade-ins or at a recycling center, can benefit the world, the electronics industry, your community, and even you.
The Safety Hazards
So what are these hazardous materials we’re talking about? Are my electronics dangerous?
Many of your electronics, while safer in your home, don’t fare well mixed in a landfill. Lead, mercury, and other heavy metals can be very hazardous when disposed of improperly, potentially affecting the air, land, and water. Certain batteries have also been known to start fires when improperly disposed of in both garbage vehicles and landfills.
Many states such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York have even banned certain electronics from entering their landfills.
The Security Hazards
If you’re wiping your devices before throwing them out, great! However, not everyone may know how important it is.
Even if your device is dead to the world, it doesn’t mean that the data within can’t be extracted once disassembled.
As for those with businesses, you should be especially conscious that an item that gets thrown away doesn’t mean the data within is gone. Any item you throw out that hasn’t been wiped still has the possibility of being accessed later.
Recycling centers follow procedures that involve wiping the data from devices during processing. If you’re a company with sensitive client data, it’s better to be safe than sorry!
Conservation of Resources
Even if your device is no longer top-of-the-line, the materials within like gold and silver are still valuable to electronics providers. These are resources that need to be mined from the Earth, requiring funding, labor, and time.
Recycling or trading-in your devices means that these materials can be reused and put into new electronics. Natural resources are conserved, and manufacturers can meet sustainability goals.
The Benefit for Your Community
If your recycled device is of good quality, it could potentially be refurbished. Refurbished devices are pre-owned but tested to the same standards as a new product.
Refurbished devices can also be given as donations to schools or are sold for reduced prices that can be much more affordable for those who still need them, especially as we move towards an increasingly digital world. Many workplaces and schools require a laptop, phone, or tablet that may not be sustainable for all. Recycled and refurbished devices make affordable options for people in need.
The Benefit for You
Besides the obvious health benefits that come from a clean environment, many companies will reimburse you for trading in your old devices or will count that as a credit towards a new one. No need to build up the junk drawer, and you can still get a new device out of it!
Your private information will be better protected, your world a healthier place, and you can help people in need; if you haven’t started recycling your electronics, start now!
Your TVs, computers, printers, and phones can be better put to rest at a recycling center that knows how to take care of them. Find an electronics recycling center near you and dispose of your devices safely and responsibly!