Electronic Recycling 101

Since the late 1990s, to battle the growing amount of electronic waste, businesses, governments and households have used electronic recycling to handle discarded electronic devices. But what is electronic recycling, why do we need it and what is the process? This 101 breakdown will help you understand.  

What Is Electronic Recycling?

In its most basic form, electronic recycling is the disassembling of electronic products to reuse again in future. It can be done by retrieving valuable materials used within the creation of the electronic products (such as mercury) or reusing certain parts of a device for another item. It is environmentally friendly and the safest way to protect the ecosystem from the dangers of electronics.

Why The Need For Electronic Recycling?

To understand why we need electronic recycling is to know why we have a problem in the first place. E-waste (short for electronic waste) is one of the fastest growing wastes in the world. Over 500 million obsolete electronics are disposed of each year, and unlike regular waste, e-waste is considered hazardous due to the materials of its products. It can severely harm the environment, hence the need for a proper recycling method. E-waste can include products like laptops, mobile phones, servers, music systems, televisions and more.

What Is The Process Of Electronic Recycling?

E-waste needs to be disposed of correctly, so make sure that you find an established electronic recycling company. They will have drop-off points or can schedule pick-ups if required. Once they have obtained your products, they will destroy all data on it (just to make sure) before breaking it down. They will either use the reuse the materials for new products or hand off the parts of the product to a service that needs it.

Why Use Electronic Recycling?

Electronic recycling is vital for the safety and protection of our planet. More than half a billion electronic devices are tossed away, and if done incorrectly, can damage the ecosystem. You can do your part by safely, and securely, disposing of your electronic devices.

The Electronic Reusing Association (ERA) is a non-profit organization that has been reducing unnecessary electronic waste since 2004. Our mission is to protect the environment and build up communities by repurposing old electronics and donating computers, laptops, and other IT Equipment to deserving organizations in need of funding and support. We have drop-off locations in the US and Canada. For more information, call our Toll Free line on 1877-9EWASTE.