EWASTE PROCESSING

What is eWaste?

E-waste is electronic products that are unwanted, not working, and nearing or at the end of their “useful life.” Computers, televisions, VCRs, stereos, copiers, and fax machines are everyday electronic products.

The ongoing challenge of how best to dispose of used and unwanted electronics isn’t a new one and dates back at least to the 1970s. But a lot has changed since then, particularly the number of electronics being discarded today.

We also have something else today: a term for this issue. After several terms got suggested, including “Digital rubbish,” a consensus formed around the simple word “e-waste.”

Home Appliances

  • Microwaves
  • Home Entertainment Devices
  • Electric cookers
  • Heaters
  • Fans

Communications and Information Technology Devices

  • Cell phones
  • Smartphones
  • Desktop Computers
  • Computer Monitors
  • Laptops
  • Circuit boards
  • Hard Drives

Home Entertainment Devices

  • DVDs
  • Blu Ray Players
  • Stereos
  • Televisions
  • Video Game Systems
  • Fax machines
  • Copiers
  • Printers

Electronic Utilities

  • Massage Chairs
  • Heating Pads
  • Remote Controls
  • Television Remotes
  • Electrical Cords
  • Lamps
  • Smart Lights
  • Night Lights
  • Treadmills
  • FitBits
  • Smart Watches
  • Heart Monitors
  • Diabetic Testing Equipment

Detox Your

Home

Out with the old and in with the new should never end with your used electronics in a landfill. A growing concern across the globe, electronic waste, or e-waste, is rapidly creating a crisis. Only 11-14 percent of electronic waste in the United States ready for disposal is actually recycled or reused, while the remainder is creating environmental and health issues worldwide.

Office

The generation and accumulation of electronic waste is considered one of the highest priority problems worldwide due to the environmental impact it causes. It has become a habitual fact to see images of beaches and oceans, rivers and mountainous landscapes full of human-generated waste. In this post we tell you the current state of recycling of electrical and electronic waste at an industrial level.

“I only feel angry when I see waste. When I see people throwing away things we could use.”

– Mother Teresa

Why Recycle eWaste

People today are buying more and more electronic products than ever before. Newer, faster technology is being introduced every day, which results in constant upgrades of electronic equipment. This means that the now-obsolete models of computers, mobile phones and gaming systems are discarded on a regular basis. Electronic waste or e-waste, is a term used to describe these now-undesirable electronic products. Read on to learn more about e-waste disposal and why recycling is the best option for you and the planet.

  • Many old electronic devices contain toxic substances that include lead, mercury, cadmium, beryllium, polyvinyl chloride, and chromium. When e-waste is tossed into landfills, these chemicals leach into the soil, polluting the ground water as well as the air.

  • Electronics are made of components that contain valuable raw materials. Recycling old devices saves energy. It also means that fewer raw materials need to be drawn from nature to create new devices.

  • Reusing old devices prevents e-waste by keeping it out of landfills. It also saves the resources used to recycle them. Additionally, reusing electronics helps other, less-fortunate people in your community. So take your old devices to be refurbished (if possible) and give them a new life.

  • Finally, recycling saves the raw materials that can be repurposed by producing new devices. As a result, energy is saved, pollution is reduced, and there are fewer greenhouse gas emissions released into the atmosphere.

How eWaste Reused

Unfortunately, the e-waste problem is not one that is going to reduce anytime soon so we have to look to other options – Reuse or Recycle. The UN estimates between 20-50 million tonnes of electronic waste is discarded every year, with only 12.5% of this being recycled.

 

e-Waste recycling is definitely a positive disposal method ensuring that precious metals and components are recycled into usable commodities or parts. Another option and the most sustainable is Reuse, Repurpose or Remarket.

e-Waste Repurposing (Reuse or Remarketing) is a circular economy solution and is the process whereby non-data holding electronic items or electronic assets with data destroyed are reused either within your business or externally giving them second and third lives.

For electronic assets containing data, repurposing of the asset is performed after the data destruction process has been completed.

Recycled Products

Steps to Recycling Materials

Recycling includes the three steps below, which create a continuous loop, represented by the familiar recycling symbol.

Some of the common products you can find that can be made with recycled content.

Step 1:
Collection and Processing

There are several methods for collecting recyclables, including curbside collection, drop-off centers, and deposit or refund programs. Visit How do I recycle... Common Recyclables After collection, recyclables are sent to a recovery facility to be sorted, cleaned and processed into materials that can be used in manufacturing. Recyclables are bought and sold just like raw materials would be, and prices go up and down depending on supply and demand in the United States and the world.

Step 2:
Manufacturing

More and more of today's products are being manufactured with recycled content. Common household items that contain recycled materials include the following: Newspapers and paper towels Aluminum, plastic, and glass soft drink containers Steel cans Plastic laundry detergent bottles Recycled materials are also used in new ways such as recovered glass in asphalt to pave roads or recovered plastic in carpeting and park benches.

Step 3:
Purchasing New Products Made from Recycled Materials

You help close the recycling loop by buying new products made from recycled materials. There are thousands of products that contain recycled content. When you go shopping, look for the following: Products that can be easily recycled Products that contain recycled content

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.