E waste san francisco

With the proliferation of electronic devices in our lives, the correct disposal of e-waste has become a problem. Especially for offices, schools, non-profits and other organizations, disposing old computers and electronics properly can become a major undertaking. Many cities and local governments have collection centers but these can be difficult to access. For many organizations, business electronic recycling services can solve the problem by picking up e-waste and disposing it according to federal and state guidelines.

E-waste is a new problem
A new problem for the electronics age is the proper disposal of e-waste. Because electronic devices like computers and phones contain batteries, they will leak toxic and hazardous materials if they are just dumped in a landfill. This is why there are state and federal regulations concerning e-waste disposal. Unfortunately, most people are not even aware of these guidelines, and just dump their electronic devices when they get new ones.
Not surprisingly, the U.S. generates the largest amount of e-waste of any of country in the world. This can be as much as 9.4 million tons. For instance, in just a single year, 2010, 864,000 TVs were thrown in the trash instead of being properly disposed and recycled. This along with 401,000 tons of computer monitors, 255,000 tons of computers, and 17,200 tons of mobile devices all went to the landfills.

Why recycle e-waste?
Even though so much e-waste is just thrown away, it is fully recyclable. First of all, e waste recycling is the environmentally friendly option. Recycling keeps toxic and hazardous material out of the landfills. It also saves electricity. Recycling a million laptops can save as much as the electricity used by 3,657 U.S. homes in full year according to the EPA.
Computer recycling also recovers valuable materials that are used in the making of electronic decides. For instance, recycling cell phones yields metals like copper, silver, gold and palladium. Finally, disposing of electronic devices properly also improves the security of your information. Business electronic recycling companies will make sure that all the data on phones, computers and other devices is removed before recycling or repurposing them.

What exactly can you recycle?
Most common electronic equipment and accessories can be taken to a recycling center and repurposed. Electronics recycling companies will pick up all kinds of devices, like:

  • Notebooks
  • Desktops
  • LCD Monitors
  • Networking and server equipment
  • Cables and adapters
  • Lead acid batteries
  • Cell phones
  • TVs
  • Phones and phone systems

A better alternative to just dumping your electronics devices in the trash is to schedule a pick up with a business electronic recycling company. E waste recycling helps schools, businesses and other organizations to remain in compliance with state and federal regulations. It protects the data that was once stored on these devices, and it protects the environment.