What is E-Waste and Why Is E-Waste Recycling So Important?

E-waste, also known as electronic waste, refers to discarded or broken electronic devices like computers, smartphones, televisions, and other household appliances. With the rapid advancements in technology, e-waste is becoming an increasingly significant problem. Consider these statistics, for example:

• The amount of global e-waste generated in 2019 was 53.6 million metric tons, up 21% from 2014 (UNU).
• Only 17% of e-waste was formally recycled in 2019 (UNU).
• In 2019, the average American generated 16.9 pounds of e-waste (EPA).
• In 2021, it is estimated that the global e-waste market will reach 55.8 million metric tons (Global Market Insights).

How to Properly Dispose of E-Waste

E-waste cannot be thrown in the trash or landfill because it contains hazardous materials that can be harmful to the environment and human health—including heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and mercury, and chemicals like brominated flame retardants and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

When electronics are discarded in landfills, these toxic materials can leach into the soil and groundwater, contaminating the environment and potentially harming local ecosystems and communities. Not to mention, burning e-waste in landfills releases toxic fumes into the air, which can contribute to air pollution and cause people to have respiratory health problems.

This is why it’s so important to properly dispose of electronics through e-waste recycling programs to reduce the harm to the environment and human health. These programs can safely extract and dispose of hazardous materials, and recycle valuable materials from the electronics for reuse.

The Increasing Importance of E-Waste Recycling

Let’s take a look at some reasons why e-waste recycling is becoming more relevant than ever before:

• It helps conserve natural resources. Electronic devices are often made from valuable materials like gold, silver, and copper, which are finite resources. By recycling e-waste, we can recover these materials and reuse them in the production of new devices. This not only helps to conserve our natural resources, but it also reduces the need to extract new materials, thereby reducing the impact on the environment.
• It helps prevent pollution. Electronic devices contain toxic substances such as lead, cadmium, and mercury, which can cause harm to the environment and human health if not properly disposed of. When electronic waste is sent to a landfill, these toxic substances can leach into the soil and groundwater, contaminating our environment. However, when e-waste is recycled, these toxic substances are safely removed and disposed of, helping to protect our planet.
• It helps create jobs and stimulate the economy. The process of recycling e-waste requires specialized skills and equipment, creating jobs in the recycling industry. This not only creates employment opportunities, but it also helps stimulate economic growth by creating new industries and businesses.
• There’s more electronic waste being produced than ever. With the rapid advancements in technology and the increasing number of electronic devices being used, the amount of e-waste being generated is growing at an alarming rate. This means that if we don’t take action to recycle e-waste, the environmental and health impacts will only become worse over time.

E-Waste Recycling with CheckSammy

At CheckSammy, we offer sustainable e-waste recycling services on a one-time or recurring basis, for individuals and businesses alike. We offer tailor-made programs to fit our customers’ needs, large and small. The process is simple: you schedule an e-waste pickup, a CheckSammy hauler comes by to pick-up your waste, and we haul it away to a recycling facility where we sort, recycle, and divert the e-waste products. We accept the following items for e-waste recycling (and more):

• Computer monitors and computer components
• Smartphones
• Televisions
• Video game systems
• Printers
• Scanners
• Cables
• Circuit boards
• DVD/Blu Ray players
• Radios
• Microwaves
• Dryers
• Washing machines

E-waste recycling is an important issue that affects not only our environment, but also our health and economy. By properly recycling e-waste with CheckSammy, you can help conserve valuable natural resources, prevent pollution, create jobs, and stimulate the economy. If you’re ready to get rid of old electronic devices, contact us today to see how we can help.