People tend to want the latest and newest electronic devices on the market. Cell phone companies are always offering amazing deals to get you to buy the newest model. With the purchase of a new iPhone, tablet or computer comes another old electronic device that will collect dust in a drawer or just thrown out into the trash. Electronic waste causes a significant negative impact on our environment. Here are 3 facts E-Waste.
1. Electronic waste accounts for 70% of all toxic waste production
Electronic waste only takes up 2% of our landfills but accounts for 70% of the total toxic waste production. Despite these concerning numbers, roughly 20% of the e-waste produced each year is actually recycled. Many electronic devices contain harmful materials including lead, beryllium, mercury, arsenic, brominated flame retardants and cadmium. These materials can have a severe human impact if they aren’t handled correctly, and exposure occurs. These harmful materials are a risk to the workers that handle the e-waste and pose a threat to communities that are shipped excess e-waste.
2. 40 million Tons of Electronic Waste Every Year
Worldwide we generate around 50 million tons of electronic waste every year. That is equivalent to throwing away 800 laptops every single second of every single day. Almost 80% of electronic waste from the United States and most other countries is transported away to Asia. Common electronic devices that become e-waste are laptops, computers, monitors, tablets, cellphones, printers, fax machines, DVDs, scanners, televisions, modems and routers.
3. Computer pieces can be used for other goods
Cell phones and other electronic devices contain a large number of precious metals like silver and gold. In the US alone over $60 million in silver/gold is thrown out every year. When you recycle your computer or laptop, the old materials from the computer can be turned into jewelry, car parts, cell phones and more. For every 1 million cell phones that are recycled, 772 lbs. of silver, 75 lbs. of gold, 35,274 lbs. of copper, and 33 lbs. of palladium can be recovered.
With over 1 billion new cellphones and 300 million new computers ready to be purchased worldwide, there are even more than that ready to be recycled. If you’re looking to responsibly recycle your old electronics, contact Desert Computer Solutions in Tempe, AZ. Learn more about our electronic recycling here.
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