E-waste, also referred to as electronic waste, is a term used to describe electronic devices and appliances that are discarded when they no longer work or when we upgrade to a newer, better model. But these used devices have a hugely detrimental impact to the environment, even though, in many cases, they can be repurposed or recycled to minimise the carbon footprint they leave behind. Here are a few important facts you may not be aware of regarding e-recycling and the value it provides for the planet.
What is E-Waste?
E-waste is any type of electrical equipment that’s been discarded, whether it’s IT equipment, like printers, computers, laptops and hard drives, or phones, household appliances such as microwaves and electric cookers, and lamps and bulbs. Both working and broken equipment can make its way into landfill, which has a long-term negative impact on the environment. In fact, even new items that haven’t been sold can also be thrown away by businesses who have excess stock or unwanted products, leading to thousands of tonnes of waste piling up in our landfills and destroying delicate ecosystems.
How Does E-Waste Affect the Environment?
Modern electronics are harmful to the environment in a number of ways. Most electronic devices include toxic materials, including mercury, lead, beryllium and cadmium. The mining of these materials to produce electronic equipment is harmful to the planet and incredibly resource-intensive.
When e-waste is buried in landfills, the toxic materials can dissolve into microscopic poisonous traces that make their way into soil, water and air, impacting humans, wildlife and crops. This is particularly harmful during the summer months, as e-waste releases more toxic chemicals when it’s exposed to heat.
E-waste can also release toxins into the air, whether it’s through slow decomposition in landfills, or companies dismantling and melting the materials which release particles that pollute the air and damage our respiratory health. Chronic diseases can also occur when e-waste is burned, which can travel thousands of miles and impact the health of humans and wildlife alike.
The Benefits of E-Recycling
In today’s throwaway society, where we’re constantly striving to replace our belongings with the latest model or upgrade, e-waste has steadily become the leading waste stream on a global scale. So, disposing of end-of-life devices in a responsible way is critical to the protection of the environment.
Electronics are made from valuable raw materials, which are expensive and exhaustive to the planet to mine. E-recycling not only saves energy, but it also means that fewer resources are required to make new devices and products. Recycling our old items minimises the quantity of waste heading to landfills and reduces the levels of pollutants ending up in our soil and waterways.
E-waste contains a lot of valuable materials that can be used to create new items, including metals, glass and plastic that can all be repurposed for manufacturing. The planet has finite resources, so recycling e-waste helps to conserve its natural supplies, as well as providing businesses with a more efficient way of obtaining materials such as metal deposits. This, in turn, reduces pollution and minimises greenhouse gas emissions being released into the atmosphere, which is critical for the preservation of the planet.
For businesses, e-recycling also shows that you’re responsible in the management of your assets. As a result of the climate crisis, being able to display green credentials as a business is essential to attracting and retaining customers – in fact, it’s increasingly something that customers look for in businesses they buy from. When handled improperly, e-waste can cause reputational damage, not only from an environmental perspective but also from a security standpoint, since data theft is a risk when devices aren’t wiped of data before being thrown away.
Final thoughts
In order to preserve the planet, minimise our carbon footprint and create electrical items in a more efficient and cost-effective way, we need to prioritise recycling where possible. The negative effects of e-waste impact not only the planet but human and animal health, as well as affecting the reputation of businesses. In order to prevent issues in the long term, businesses and individuals alike have a responsibility to ensure that all electrical devices are recycled in an eco-friendly way wherever possible.
Using a WEEE-compliant recycling company will ensure that your e-waste is disposed of or recycled in the correct way so it can be reused as new products. For more information about our e-waste recycling services, contact the team at Priority WEEE today and we’ll be happy to help.
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