Electronics Recycling

What is E-Waste?

Electronic waste, or e-waste, is a term for electronic products that have become unwanted, non-working or obsolete, and have essentially reached the end of their useful life. Because technology advances at such a high rate, many electronic devices become “trash” after a few short years of use. In fact, whole categories of old electronic items contribute to e-waste such as VCRs being replaced by DVD players, and DVD players being replaced by blu-ray players. E-waste is created from anything electronic: computers, TVs, monitors, cell phones, PDAs, VCRs, CD players, fax machines, printers, etc.

Why recycle E-Waste?

Electronic waste (e-waste) is the fastest growing segment of the municipal waste stream.

Electronics may contain toxic materials such as lead, barium, mercury, and cadmium, which are harmful to the environment. Computer monitors and televisions containing cathode ray tubes (CRTs) are considered hazardous waste. Each CRT contains approximately five to eight pounds of lead. CRTs are banned from most landfills.

It is estimated that 50% of the households in the United States own a computer.

Americans discard more than 130 million used cell phones a year. That’s four cell phones per second! This adds up to 65,000 tons of potentially toxic waste generated annually. Cell phones should be recycled and not disposed of in Texas landfills or incinerators which could have a widespread impact on public health and the environment.

The toxic material from a single phone is capable of polluting 158,200 gallons of water!

For more information on recycling e-waste, please visit  www.earth911.com.