There is a very real need for electronic recycling in the world. Read on to learn how this industry is improving and preparing for the future of tech advances.
There is a greater need for electronic recycling now more than ever.
Moore’s Law stated that the power of computer processors would double every two years.
From a business standpoint, your computers would be good for at least a few years before you would have to replace them.
Technology is evolving at a rapid rate, and our current electronics are obsolete faster than ever before. Moore’s Law no longer applies.
Device manufacturers are releasing new models quickly, too. What happens to all of those devices?
They go into landfills. Keep reading to learn what this can do to the environment and what the electronic recycling industry is doing to reverse the damage.
The Average Life Span for Electronics
In 2016, it was expected that 93 million tons of electronic waste would reach a landfill. That number is so large, it equates to 1.86e+11 pounds.
That number has almost doubled since 2011.
Since technology is changing so rapidly, it helps to look at the average lifespan of devices. Most consumer devices have a lifespan of five years. The Consumer Technology Association found that there is a difference between devices:
- Flat Panel Television sets last for 7.4 years.
- Smartphones last for 4.7 years.
- Desktop Computers for 5 years.
When these devices get traded in or disposed of, the vast majority of them end up in landfills.
However, companies are looking at the benefits of recycling products like conference phones. You can learn more here.
Environmental Impact of Electronic Waste
Electronic devices such as computers have toxic chemicals. Zinc, lead, nickel, and chromium are just a few of the toxic materials in electronics.
When these devices end up in landfills, they can do a tremendous amount of harm to the environment. The toxic materials can get into groundwater damaging our land and our water.
If the waste is sitting in the sun, these chemicals can be released into the air when the devices are warm.
How Electronics Are Recycled
How electronics are recycled has become a big issue. The problem is that most of them aren’t.
When you throw away an electronic device. It doesn’t end up in a landfill nearby. It most likely will end up in a developing nation.
The United States and Europe are the two largest electronic waste producers. Developed nations also have the strictest policies when it comes to disposing of electronic waste.
Countries like China, Nigeria, Paraguay, Venezuela, Ghana, and India have loose regulations for electronic recycling.
What happens is that the countries that produce the most waste send it to the countries with the least strict regulations.
There, the computer parts are stripped of valuable metals such as copper, aluminum, iron, and steel. This is usually done by the hands of unskilled laborers, exposing them to the toxic components of computers.
In one town in China that tested the lead levels in children found that they had three times as much lead than the US Center for Disease Control permits.
New Electronic Recycling Technologies
Japan has taken the lead in developing new technologies to keep up with very strict regulations. Japan’s laws approach recycling throughout the entire lifecycle of a product.
In other words, the recycling program looks at how much waste is produced and minimized when the product is manufactured, all the way to what happens when the device is disposed of.
The main technological innovation is the Kubota Vertical Shredder, which can take large appliances and shred them into smaller pieces.
How to Start an Electronic Recycling Program
It’s everyone’s responsibility to recycle electronics in a way that does no harm to the environment and to people.
It’s up to electronics manufacturers to design products that can easily be disposed of. It’s up to waste management companies to dispose of the electronics in a way that is profitable and environmentally safe.
Ultimately, it’s up to you to learn what happens to electronics and how you can implement an electronic recycling program for you and your employees to follow.
It’s easy enough to start one. You need to get in touch with a waste management company that handles electronic waste. You’ll want to verify what these companies do with their devices and how they’re managed.
If the products are shipped off to developing nations, then you’ll want to move on to another company.
You can also get in touch with your local government offices. There’s a good chance that they’ll have an electronic recycling program just for area businesses.
The recycling company you work with can provide bins for your office.
You’ll need to develop a policy around recycling electronics and get your employees on board. One way to go about doing this is to get employees involved in the process.
You’ll need to work with your IT team to figure out how many devices will need to be replaced and plan accordingly.
Another way to get your employees engaged is to encourage them to bring in electronics from home to recycle. You might have to set some clear guidelines as to what they can and can’t bring, but it will save them the hassle of trying to recycle materials themselves.
Finally, let your employees understand the benefits of electronic recycling and what your goals are with the program. For example, you can site how recycling electronics is an issue.
Electronic Recycling: Everyone Wins
The United States produces more electronic waste than any nation on the planet. Some of that winds up in landfills, or it can wind up in a third world country.
Regardless of where your devices and TVs end up, it’s important to do what everything you can to do the most amount of good and the least amount of harm to the world.
By using the latest recycling technologies, your company can develop a policy that will help, not harm the planet and the people living on it.
It’s also good corporate stewardship to show that your business cares about the environment and does something about it. That can turn into positive brand recognition, more sales, and higher customer and employee loyalty.
If you’re looking to create a new policy for your business, check out these for ideas.
