Technology is always moving forward, and many of the electronic devices homeowners have come to rely on are becoming obsolete faster than ever before. Defunct electronics must be disposed of properly to protect the environment and conserve essential resources. Here are some tips to keep in mind the next time you have to get rid of some old electronics.
The Dangers of E-Waste
Electrical waste, or e-waste, is made up of old electronic devices and materials that are no longer being used. It includes old televisions, computers, tablets, smartphones, and household appliances that have reached the end of their useful lives. An old refrigerator or microwave oven that you’ve had for years and no longer works would be considered e-waste if you threw it out, but so could an obsolete smartphone that you’ve recently replaced with a newer model. E-waste also includes items that you may not think of as electronics, such as power tools, electric toothbrushes, and smoke detectors. It’s the fastest-growing source of solid waste. An estimated 62 million tons of e-waste was generated worldwide in 2022, and only 22.3 percent was documented as collected and recycled.
There’s no doubt that electrical waste is piling up in homeowners’ garbage cans and landfills, posing a severe environmental threat. E-waste often contains hazardous materials like lead, mercury, and cadmium, which can leach into the soil and contaminate nearby water sources, creating long-lasting environmental and health risks. In addition to these heavy metals, e-waste can contain harmful chemicals, such as brominated flame retardants and plastics that take centuries to break down.
Improperly disposed batteries, for instance, are particularly dangerous. This is not only because they can leak toxic substances, but they can also overheat or explode when thrown away in regular trash. This adds to the risks of fires in landfills or recycling centers. Furthermore, e-waste contributes to air pollution when it’s incinerated, releasing harmful gases and fine particles that affect the environment and human health. By recycling e-waste properly, homeowners can help reduce these dangers and minimize the impact on the ecosystem.
Not only are the materials found in e-waste terrible for the environment, but improper disposal of certain devices can leave you vulnerable to a data breach. You likely have a lot of personal information stored on your smartphones, tablets, or laptops that could cause a lot of problems if it fell into the wrong hands. If you carelessly threw your phone or laptop in the trash, someone could fish it out of a dumpster and gain access to your bank account information, social security number, and anything else they could use to steal your identity.
Finally, when old electronics and appliances are simply thrown in the trash, valuable materials like gold, platinum, copper, and aluminum are lost instead of being recovered and recycled. These metals are often used in small amounts in electronic components, but extracting them from raw materials requires significant energy and resources. Recycling electronics helps conserve these resources by allowing these valuable materials to be reused in the production of new devices. This process not only reduces the need for environmentally damaging mining operations but can also contribute to the economy by making these precious materials more readily available. In the long term, this could help lower the production costs of new electronics, potentially making them more affordable for consumers.
Recycling
If you have old electronics, appliances, or other materials that no longer work, recycling them is the most responsible way to dispose of them. Many cities offer electronics recycling programs, so contact to your local waste management company for more information. They can tell you where to drop off old electronics or arrange to pick up of larger appliances that are difficult to transport. Some programs even have designated e-waste collection days, similar to regular trash or recycling pickups. You can usually find information about collection days through flyers mailed to your home or your waste management company’s website.
If your city doesn’t offer an e-waste recycling program or can’t accept a specific device, research local companies that specialize in recycling electronics. For instance, Best Buy has a recycling program that accepts many types of old electronics, including computers, televisions, and household appliances. There’s likely a reputable company nearby that will gladly take your unwanted devices off your hands.
Whether you go through your city’s waste management company or another organization that recycles e-waste, it’s important to follow all instructions carefully when preparing your waste. This may include things such as removing doors from old refrigerators, removing batteries from laptops, and anything else that will make the recycling and disposal process easier and safer for everyone involved. Be sure to delete all data from computer and smartphone hard drives. Most reputable electronic recycling programs will do this anyway, but it’s always best to do it yourself to protect yourself from possible identity theft.
Reselling Devices
If you have a device you don’t need but that can be made functional again, you can always look into reselling it or getting it repaired. Some companies that refurbish and sell old electronics, and they may be willing to take some of your devices off of your hands. You might also be able to sell your old devices on sites such as eBay or other online marketplaces. Not only will this ensure that you don’t contribute your potentially dangerous e-waste to a landfill, but it can also make you some extra money. While you likely won’t get back what the device was originally worth unless it’s rare and in excellent condition, it could still be a helpful financial boost. If you go this route, make sure to delete all of your personal information from your devices. Again, reputable resellers should do this already, but doing it yourself adds some extra security.
Disposing of Batteries
Even if you don’t have many old electronics and appliances that need to be disposed of, you probably have at least a few old batteries that are taking up space in your home. Like most e-waste, throwing these batteries in the trash can harm the environment and is a bad idea, so check to see if there is a battery recycling program near you. When you get rid of your old batteries, separate the dead single-use batteries from the rechargeable ones because they often require different recycling methods.
Contact Your Local Experts
At Potts Electric, we have served the residents of Ellisville, MO and the surrounding areas for over 10 years. As a local and family-owned company, we understand the impact of e-waste on the environment. Whether you contact us to upgrade your electrical panel, rewire your home, or repair your electrical system, you can trust that we will dispose of any e-waste responsibly. You can also count on us to install modern necessities like EV charging stations and whole-home surge protection. Contact us today to schedule an electrical appointment with one of our knowledgeable team members.
