A Student’s Guide to Electronic Waste
Much of what we do on a daily basis depends on the use of electronic technology, which includes everything from TVs to computers to cellular phones. Technology is always changing, meaning that the shelf life for these devices shrinks by the day. But before you dispose of your old electronics, keep in mind that the circuit boards and electric switches inside of them contain both valuable and hazardous materials that don’t belong in a landfill.
In the U.S. alone, we generate 1.5 billion pounds of e-waste (electronic waste) annually. Meanwhile, the shelf life of devices like cellular phones is approximately 18 months, so e-waste is a continuing problem as more and more technology is released. The major issue with disposing of e-waste in landfills is that it currently accounts for 70 percent of the toxic waste in the U.S.
E-waste can be properly disposed of using two methods: recycling. If your device is in working order, the best choice is to reuse it by donating or selling it to a person or organization. There are currently over 500 million used cellular phones that aren’t being used, as well as 44 million computers and televisions collecting dust in garages and attics.
Instead of storing them in a garage, these items can be donated to a charity to raise money for a cause, or sold to another person. Before you donate an electronic device, wipe out your personal information to prevent identity theft.
If an electronic product is no longer in working condition, it should be recycled using a take-back program, a community recycling event or an electronics recycling company. When recycling your e-waste, consider the following:
- Over 90 percent of the materials in electronic products can be recycled or reused in other electronics. This includes plastics from the casing and metal from the circuit boards and switches.
- These devices contain hazardous materials that, if illegally dumped or placed in a landfill, can leach into soil as well as contaminate our water supply. Some televisions can contain between four and eight pounds of lead, cell phone batteries can contain nickel or cadmium and computer circuit boards contain mercury.
- Millions of pounds of obsolete electronics are stored in households and garages every year, and the materials in these devices can be combustible and spread household fires. Why hang on to these devices if they are no longer needed or functional?
