How is e waste recycled
Electronic waste, or e-waste, refers to electronic products that are no longer wanted or used. E-waste can include home electronics, like microwaves and electric cookers, or office equipment like computers and printers.
E-waste could be a result of electronics breaking or reaching the end of their usage. However, with advancements in technology, lots of e-waste occurs from electronics that are deemed ‘outdated’ and upgraded for the latest models.
This means there is an increasing amount of e-waste, which can have a negative impact on the environment. That means it’s more important than ever to consider how to responsibly dispose of e-waste.
In this article we will outline the different ways that e-waste is discarded, and how it can be recycled to have a less harmful impact on the environment.
How is e-waste commonly discarded
In 2019, the world discarded 53.6 million tons of e-waste in 2019. That figure is set to increase to a staggering 57 million tons, not helped by the increased demand of working from home, and the electronics associated with this.
Disappointingly, only 17.4% of e-waste discarded in 2019 was recycled, the United Nations reports. So what happens to the over 80% of e-waste that isn’t recycled?
Unfortunately, most electronic waste ends up in landfills. The problem comes when considering the often toxic metals that make up many electronics, like lead and mercury. When left to pile up in landfill, this can be incredibly dangerous to the environment.
So, it’s important to find more sustainable and less harmful ways to dispose of e-waste. Recycling e-waste can have a positive impact on this problem, as it means less harmful materials reach landfills, and some parts can even be reused in newer electronics.
But, how is e-waste recycled?
Fortunately, there is more education about recycling in general, and we are more aware now of how materials such as tins and cans are re-used and recycled to extend the life cycle of resources.
But items such as electronics can still seem like a bit of a mystery, as often we don’t think about what actually makes up our smartphones, tablets or TVs. E-recycling makes use of many of the materials involved in making these electronics.
E-recycling makes sure that any materials that can be recycled, like strong plastics, are reused in a multitude of ways, from car bumpers to musical instruments! Metals like copper, often found in electronics, can be repurposed into newer electronics, while harder.
Did you know that many electronics have precious metals, like gold, in them? These harder, more resilient precious metals can be reused in circuit boards for new smartphones, or even recycled into jewellery.
By recycling e-waste, we can extend the use of material. This means that we don’t have to use more of the earth’s resources to produce new materials, a process that can not only deplete resources and emit harmful emissions in the production or extraction process.
How to recycle e-waste
At Priority WEEE, we specialise in handling e-waste professionally and responsibly. From IT recycling to fridge and battery recycling, we offer a range of services to ensure your e-waste is recycled properly. Contact Priority WEEE today to find out more about e-waste management.
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