Almost all of us have a cellphone, computer, or electronic device in our household. Although we use these devices daily, we rarely think about what we will do with them when they reach their end-of-life state.
Once they get to an obsolete state, we are stuck with how to get rid of them. When we don’t want or use something anymore, having it sit around is annoying. Once it is gone, you don’t want to see it ever again.
However, throw away your e-waste. It will still be somewhere in ways that can be detrimental for the environment, and consequently, everyone, even if you can’t see it. What should you do then?
This blog shows you why it’s better to do electronics recycling than throwing it away and how to do it.
The Why Of Electronics Recycling
There is more awareness now on the importance of electronics recycling or reuse. However, we are still not entirely there yet. Nowadays, newer models are rapidly replacing old ones. People are discarding their old electronics too quickly to acquire the latest tech. In 2020, the replacement cycle length of consumer standard phones was about nearly 2.5 years, according to replacement cycle length forecasts.
Many still won’t consider electronics recycling as an option, since according to the EPA, “In 2018, the rate of selected consumer electronics recycling was 38.5 percent.”
Everything from the making to the ending of e-waste products has some negative impact on the environment. These materials, which are obtained and produced in an unsustainable way, will end up in the landfill decomposing while leaking toxic chemicals and substances into groundwater if they don’t cause a landfill fire or end up shipped overseas where they are dangerously and inappropriately processed.
The best thing to do would certainly be reducing consumption, buying second-hand, reusing, and donating our electronics, even before you consider electronics recycling. Still, we understand that there are just moments when it is the only option, but you can still do the right thing.
In electronics, one can find treasures and precious resources to recycle and dangerous materials like lead and mercury. Properly retrieving and managing them can reduce risks and contaminants in our environments and lessen the need to acquire new materials in an unsustainable way.
The How Of Electronics Recycling
Hopefully, we helped you recognize the importance of proper e-waste disposal. However, the question of how to do it remains. Like we stated before, the best options will constantly be reusing your old electronics or donating them to someone that genuinely needs it.
Still, when you can’t do this, you can recur to electronics recycling. To do it correctly, before you get rid of your device, make sure you delete all your data first for security reasons. Choose a method that will best suit your needs. Just remember that your normal deleting process of just eliminating files isn’t enough.
Once your devices are ready for electronics recycling, you have two options to do so. You can either drop off your electronics personally at a recycling facility or hire a removal & recycling company to take them and properly dispose of them.
If you are doing electronics recycling in Delaware, at A1 Services General, we offer electronics recycling services among our waste removal & recycling services!
