What is Electronic Waste Recycling and Why Do it?

A question on many people’s minds these days is what is electronic waste recycling and why do it?

What is Electronic Waste Recycling?

Electronics Recycling is the process of transforming e-waste and turning it into reusable materials. It is an essential activity that is beneficial to the environment and businesses.

We live in a world where users keep upgrading or changing their electronic devices and invest in faster and more effective products. This means more waste is produced that is not biodegradable.

Massive amounts of electronic appliances, phones and other electronic waste (e-waste) are ending up at landfills every day, despite most of them being recyclable.

E-waste involves anything that you can plug into an electrical outlet that you no longer have a use for. This includes refrigerators, cell phones, old televisions, lights, and even hearing devices.

Every electronics recycling effort at home or at the workplace makes a difference, and this is why.

5 Benefits of Electronic Recycling

Benefits of Electronic Recycling

1. Protecting The Environment

Electronics Recycling keeps an array of toxic materials out of the environment. Lighting such as lamps and fluorescent tubes contain harmful mercury that can seep into waterways when it is discarded at landfills.

However, when lighting equipment is recycled, the mercury is salvaged and safely utilized to produce products such as dental amalgam. The same applies to batteries, where cadmium, lead, and mercury is retrieved.

For instance, when you recycle a lead-acid battery, both the toxic lead-acid and the plastic casing is recycled, while the sulphuric acid inside is neutralised and transformed into sodium sulphate for making detergent and fertilizer.

Massive amounts of electronic waste (e-waste) are ending up at landfills every day, despite most of them being recyclable. Here's what needs to be done about it and why.2. Lowering Business Expenses

E-waste recycling is not just beneficial for the environment, but it could have a positive impact on your business finances too. Most governments are banning dumping or charging exorbitant prices for dumping. Your business can also benefit from non-tangible dividends by reducing future costs of non-renewable materials and uplifting staff morale and retention.

3. Supporting Non-Renewable Recycling

The ever-growing demand for electronics means an increased demand for metals and nonrenewable resources that must be mined and processed. But, electronic devices like appliances, cell phones and other e-waste can be salvaged and reused.

These resources include aluminium, gold, steel, and copper, not to mention the substantial amounts of plastic that can be used for making new products.

E-waste recycling means these materials can be re-used, providing more resources to manufacture your next TV or laptop.

4. Showing the World Your Business is Environmentally Friendly

Staff members increasingly prefer to work for companies that support the community and care about what happens to the environment.

Recycling is an easy and tangible way to show your business’s commitment to environmental and social values, and reinforcing these principles to your staff members.

More and more companies nowadays are playing their part by promoting green and sustainable practices.

5. It has Never Been This Easy to Recycle E-Waste

Recycling electronic waste doesn’t take a lot of effort but it reaps tremendous rewards. There are many places and waste companies that are more than willing to accept your old printers, TV’s, laptops, phones, or unwanted gadgets that you no longer have a use for.

Conclusion

I hope that this post has been useful and that it has convinced you to consider electronic waste recycling as a way to create a better world and doing your bit to save the planet. 

Related:  Sustainable Energy Facts You Need to Know

Sustainable Energy Facts You Need to Know

Sustainable Energy Facts

This post was sponsored by Douglas Healy

When the term “renewable energy” is mentioned, most of us instantly think about energy sources like the wind, water, solar or geothermal energy, and while it appears to be of importance, many people often overlook exactly what a major impact renewable can have on the lives of millions of people as well as the planet and our environment.

Have a look at these interesting sustainable energy facts to give you a better insight into why more companies and individuals should invest in renewable energy sources.

Take a look at these interesting sustainable energy facts to give you insight into why more companies and individuals should invest in renewable energy sources. #sustainableenergyfacts #renewableenergy #sponsoredpost

1.       Renewable energy equals clean energy

Sustainable energy is a type of clean energy which is generated by natural resources in nature.

2.   The primary varieties of sustainable energy are…

  • Wind
  • Hydro
  • Solar
  • Biofuel
  • Geothermal

The best thing about these resources is that they are continuously replenished.

3.     Five times more jobs are created through renewable energy, in comparison to fossil fuels

When clean energy jobs are compared to those of gas and coal, the sustainable energy industry has generated five jobs for every one job in the fossil fuels sector.

4.     China is the leader when it comes to generating wind power

Did you know that China has extensive coastlines and a substantial landmass, of which they take full advantage to capitalize on cultivating wind energy? In 2017 alone, they’ve managed to install 19.7 GW of capacity, manufacturing and erecting two wind turbines each hour.

5.     Just one wind turbine can make a significant impact

Apart from providing electricity nationwide, small local communities can also reap the benefits of wind energy. A single wind turbine of 2.5MW can produce sufficient energy to power more than a thousand four hundred households per year.

6.       Major tech corporations are taking the lead when it comes to the green movement

Large technology firms such as Facebook, Apple and Microsoft are all competing to help generate a greener internet. They are all committed to incorporate green operations and business initiatives through green energy. All three global brands were categorized A in the clean energy directory.

7.     Itaipu Dam generates electricity for Paraguay and Brazil

The largest dam worldwide, the Itaipu which is nearly two hundred metres tall and spans a massive 7919 metres across, is contributing seventy-six percent of Paraguay’s electricity while also producing seventeen percent of Brazil’s power each year.

8.     Portugal can supply the entire country with electricity through renewable energy alone

During 2016, Portugal was powered via a combination of hydro-generated, wind and solar energy for four consecutive days, a memorable clean energy milestone for Portugal to meet the EU’s sustainable objectives for 2020.

9.     Iceland, the largest energy generator per capita in the world

Iceland has an abundance of geothermal energy thanks to the string of volcanoes surrounding it. One hundred percent of the country’s electricity is generated through hydropower and geothermal resources.

10.   In some countries, sustainable energy is more cost-effective than fossil fuels

Renewable energy is far more affordable in some countries due to their capability of harnessing resources of energy that are predominant to their locations.

11.   Sunlight could meet worldwide electricity demand if harnessed properly

The sunlight that falls on earth for an hour is enough to power the energy demands worldwide for an entire year if only it could be appropriately harnessed.

12.   Biomass is presently the largest renewable energy source in the US

Biomass has more than two-hundred plants in the US, delivering energy to 1.5 million American homes.

Hope these sustainable energy facts help you dream up ways you can make a difference in this space.