Many gadgets people use in their daily lives, such as cell phones, laptops and tablets, are so quickly outdated that they often become obsolete. I hope to explain how to recycle your technology safely when it becomes too old for you to use it anymore.
What is the benefit of recycling?
One benefit is that by doing this, you are helping keep toxic chemicals out of landfills which helps protect the environment. Another advantage is that you are “closing the life cycle” of technology. As technology advances, recycled parts can be reused in newer models and recycled materials such as copper and gold to manufacture new products like smartphones or tablets.
With the rise of technology today, electronic recycling equipment has become a key to our environment. If you recycle your old IT hardware, it will be put back into use by others and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and conserve energy resources.
FAQ:
What if I don’t recycle?
– You could potentially be polluting the environment and endangering other living creatures.
Where does my stuff go when it is recycled?
– Your tech will likely get broken down into components like plastics, metals, etc., that can then be reused to make new products or recycled into new materials.
How much energy is saved when recycling?
– The EPA estimated in 2015 that Americans recycled 34 million tons of metals, glass and plastic (in addition to paper). That was enough to save the equivalent of more than 186 billion kilowatt-hours in electricity use. If you want some numbers based on your recycling habits, there’s an official recycle-o-meter calculator that you can use.
What if I recycle my tech incorrectly?
We all want to do the right thing for our environment, and most people recycle with good intentions. But we are recycling your electronics without knowing how they could do more harm than good by contaminating other recycled materials or just sending the items to landfills.
Here are five simple steps that will help recycle your tech safely:
– Use certified electronic recyclers only
– Don’t recycle non-working or broken devices unless you know they can be adequately recycled by an approved facility (such as Apple, Microsoft and Samsung)
– Always wipe data before recycling – use secure data removal software to delete all personal information securely
– Don’t recycle e-waste in the rubbish bin – use a certified recycling provider that will recycle electronic items.
– Don’t recycle your technology without knowing how. Follow these steps for the best results!