Why is it important to recycle e-waste?

Recycling e-waste is vital as it reduces the amount of equipment that goes to landfill, allows for materials and parts to be reused, maximises the value of your IT and contributes to the circular economy. You can receive a free quote on your redundant IT today from Techbuyer.

E-waste has become somewhat of a hot topic recently as it has become an increasingly unavoidable issue, received coverage in the form of a Black Friday documentary from Netflix, and seems to be becoming increasingly important to businesses and individuals.

E-waste is a result of one of the main issues with technology – disposal. Due to the number of materials found in e-waste, it is not a simple case of putting your broken desktop in the bin. This extra step of finding an e-waste recycling point or provider can result in one of two situations: Either the redundant equipment is left in storage indefinitely to collect dust, or it is disposed of in an improper manner, further compounding the growing, global e-waste issue.

What is E-waste?

A lot of people are not aware of the number of different products that the term e-waste covers. By definition, e-waste is a discarded electronic appliance. This includes everything you would expect such as phones, laptops, desktops and so on. However, it also includes equipment such as fridges, microwaves, ovens, and even medical equipment. Combining this open-ended definition with the constant shift towards an ever more digital society means that the fastest growing solid waste stream on the planet is only likely to keep growing.

Why is E-waste a Big Deal?

E-waste contains a variety of different materials. These materials can be both helpful and harmful, but they all need to be handled with care. Precious materials such as gold, silver and copper are finite resources. It is estimated that 7% of the world's gold is currently tied up in e-waste, a worryingly large portion of an important material that is currently inaccessible.

E-waste isn’t just precious and finite materials, however. Arguably, an even larger issue comes in the shape of dangerous, toxic chemicals. Chemicals and materials such as lead and arsenic are common in electronic devices. When handled incorrectly, e-waste can release these chemicals and expose these materials into the atmosphere, causing significant health issues for people that encounter it.

E-waste is a Resource

Many people find e-waste challenging to deal with due to the perceived complexities of proper disposal. However, addressing these challenges is not only crucial, but also beneficial. When recycled and handled correctly, e-waste has the potential to be a fantastic source of materials and parts. Even though a piece of IT hardware may be deemed redundant or unusable, it still holds value in its materials. Recovering these materials reduces the need to mine for new ones, which promotes the responsible usage of valuable metals and materials by reducing the need to mine for more.

Environmental Benefits

Reducing the need for mining new materials is not the only environmental benefit when it comes to recovering e-waste. As previously mentioned, the toxic threat of e-waste has a significant effect on inhabitants in the area, but it also has a serious impact on the environment. Materials within electronic equipment can take up to 1 million years to decompose and harmful chemicals seep into the ground, water and air. Responsible recycling reduces the amount of e-waste that ends up in landfill, therefore reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Reusing materials from e-waste is also less energy intensive than mining and refining new ones, further reducing global carbon emissions.

Seeing the Bigger Picture

When it comes to an issue such as e-waste, it is important to see the effect it can have on a wider level beyond just your own perceived convenience. E-waste is the fastest growing solid waste stream on the planet, and it is everyone’s responsibility to help turn the tide on this issue.

Additionally, recycling e-waste is now more straightforward than ever, and you can even earn money from it. At Techbuyer, our Resource Recovery team can provide a free quote, collect and recycle your redundant IT. All you need to do is fill out a free quote.