Our E-Waste Dilemma - How to Responsibly Dispose of Old Electronics

There is no quick and easy answer to the question of what to do with all of our throw-away electronics, but one thing is for sure - it is an ever-growing issue and we all need to act responsibly with the disposal of our E-waste.
According to Stateline.org an online publication and independent element of the Pew Research Center: There is no precise estimate of how much E-waste is piling up in the nation's landfills, but the National Safety Council estimates that 500 million defunct computers and monitors will be discarded by 2007. California's environmental protection agency estimates 6 million monitors are stacked in state homes and offices waiting to be tossed.
We cannot just toss these items into the garbage and forget about them, and here is why. All of our electronic components contain varying levels of toxic substances, such as mercury, lead and polyvinyl chloride, just to name a few, which will leach out into our groundwater, if they end up in landfills.
The electronic age is here to stay, so what are we to do with the inevitable, and growing collection of broken or out-dated equipment?
Federal and State environmental laws are being written and revised to include guidelines for correct disposal of electronic equipment that is at or near the end of its useful life. In California, the Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 (SB20 / SB50) establishes a funding system for the collection and recycling of certain electronic wastes. The California Integrated Waste Management Board has adopted regulations to implement portions of the statute.
~ Key elements of the Electronic Waste Recycling Act include:
~ Reduction in hazardous substances used in certain electronic products sold in California.
~ Collection of an electronic waste recycling fee at the point of sale of certain products.
~ Distribution and recovery of recycling payments to qualified entities covering the cost of electronic waste collection and recycling.
~ Directive to recommend environmentally preferred purchasing criteria for state agency purchases of certain electronic equipment.
For the individual and small business consumer this program is intended to enhance the availability of convenient recycling options so that products containing toxic compounds are not disposed of inappropriately.
The dilemma arises as the richer countries pass legislation regulating the disposal of
E-waste, and the "recycling" business turns out to be more of an "export" business to third-world countries. An ABC News 20/20 segment on Jan 1, 2006, reported that
80% of scrap electronics from the US ends up offshore, where workers extract the few desirable parts and leave the rest in mountains of plastic and twisted parts to pollute the environment. There are also issues of worker safety in these so-called recycling plants.
Employee safety concerns are substandard, and in many cases, workers are unaware of the hazards they are being exposed to.
So, just what is the right thing to do, you ask.
Reduce -
Be responsible about your purchases.
Maybe you can up-grade your computer, rather than toss it and buy a new one.
Purchase from responsible manufacturers. Dell, HP and Apple offer free take back and recycling programs.
Reuse -
Donate equipment that is still functioning to non-profit organizations, schools or churches.
Recycle -
Items that cannot be repaired can be recycled through reputable companies.
Before you donate, or recycle your PC or cell phone be sure to clear the memory of any personal data. Simply deleting the files from your desktop does not clear the hard drive. There are software programs to overwrite the disk, you can reformat the hard drive and re-install the operating system, or the more drastic route is to physically destroy the hard drive by removing it from the housing unit and smashing it with a hammer.
E-waste is the fastest growing part of municipal waste streams, and rising almost three times faster than the overall waste stream, according to the EPA. We, the purchasing public, need to not only be aware of the consequences of our consumer driven culture, but be responsible for our individual contribution to the problem, and be willing to step up to the plate to do the right thing.
The following is a partial list of items that should NOT go into the garbage can:
Fluorescent lamps & bulbs, including CFLs (compact fluorescent lights)
ALL batteries
Computer monitors and TV sets
Computer hard drive
Printers & Fax Machines
Cell phones
VCRs
Radios
Microwaves
Cordless phones
Telephone answering machines
Some communities offer Hazardous Waste Recycling events once or twice a year, which makes the disposal of these items easy and safe. Call your city offices or go online and research the donation, recycling or disposal options for your area. Also, visit your State's website for information about laws and regulations that may apply to you and your business.
For those of you with an entrepreneurial spirit, this may look like an opportunity - to develop solutions that are earth-friendly and people-friendly. We need convenient and safe disposal for even the laziest of us consumers.
While this is a vast and complex issue, if each one of us makes the effort to be as educated as possible, understand the power of our purchasing choices, one by one we do have enormous impact. Visit the web sites below for more in depth information and resources for the proper disposal of your E-waste.

Resources California Integrated Waste Management Board [http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Electronics] The Computer Take Back Campaign http://www.computertakeback.com/ Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Sandra_J._Carroll

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What is Electronic Waste?

Modern technology provides society with many conveniences, from Wi-Fi enabled cell phones and ever-smaller laptop computers that make our entire lives portable to energy-efficient washers and dryers that use half the power and time to complete their tasks. However, these new toys and gadgets leave behind them a wake of outdated, unwanted contraptions.
It's all electronic waste and it includes everything from empty printer ink cartridges to broken refrigerators. As people purchase new items to replace aging electronics or make upgrades, more electronic waste is generated. In some cases, such as 2009's switch from analog to digital television broadcasting in the United States, changes in technology are so great that old equipment may not even work at all with new systems.
There are many reasons why it is important to recycle electronic waste. Much of the material used to construct electronics, including metal and plastic components, can be recycled into new items at a fraction of the cost and energy use needed to create things from new raw materials. Additionally, many electronics contain toxic substances that are harmful to the environment and could be catastrophic if leached into an area's groundwater. For example, television tubes contain mercury, which is known to be extremely poisonous. When properly recycled, electronic waste is stripped of all toxins and other harmful materials, which is then properly and safely disposed of. Because of these environmental concerns, many areas require by law that electronic waste be properly recycled.
The availability of electronic waste recycling programs varies from place to place. Some municipalities may provide such services to area residents. In some areas, annual collections are held once or twice a year as a means of disposing of electronic waste as well as used engine oil or other waste that is harmful to the environment. When purchasing new appliances that are being delivered, retailers like Sears often offer free removal of the appliance that is being replaced. Since some appliances, such as refrigerators, cannot be disposed of without costly removal of hazardous substances, this saves you not only time but money as well! Other retailers, like Best Buy, also offer electronic waste recycling programs to their customers.
There are also some good alternatives to recycling your electronic waste. Any items that are in working condition can be given to friends or donated to charities like Goodwill or the Salvation Army, who rely heavily on donations. Freecycling, or passing on your unwanted items to those in need of them, is also a means of finding new homes for used items. Websites like Craigslist and Freecycle.org are good places to list any usable items you would like to give away. Interested parties can contact you to ask any questions they may have about your items and to arrange picking up their new treasures.
Electronic waste recycling helps preserve the environment by reducing the amount of toxic materials placed in landfills and salvaging recyclable components to save energy and other resources. Contact your local government officials or waste management companies for details on any e-waste recycling programs in your area.

Darla Blackmon writes about the environment and eco-topics at http://www.everythinglongbeach.com/, a community website that covers local news, events and health. Visit the site to learn about Long Beach recycling and how the Southern California city is going green. Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Darla_Blackmon

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E-Waste Recycling

E-Waste is electronics that are no longer being used and must disposed of. This consists of things like monitors, keyboards, phones, batteries and all other sorts of electronics. All these electronics must go somewhere and too often they are disposed of improperly in places like landfills. Recycling this e-waste is one way to not only keep our planet cleaner but conserve its natural resources as well. Recycling your e-waste is extremely important for many reasons.
Recycling your electronics properly is something that is very important, and for many different reasons. One of these reasons is that it helps to eliminate health and other environmental hazards. When electronics are disposed into a landfill instead of recycled toxic metals are able to seep into the soil and cause damage in all different sorts of ways. These toxins that seep from the metals in electronics have to ability too not only contaminate the soil that they are in but nearby sources of water as well. This contamination of the soil and water causes various health problems and pollutes the atmosphere as well.
Another reason that e-Waste should be recycled is because it helps conserve our planets natural resources. Our planets resources are very limited and once they have been used up they are gone forever. When e-waste is recycled it cuts back on the amount of them that must be used, especially when using materials that have been recycled could have preserved those natural sources. Preserving our planets natural resources is very important because it helps to ensure that generations after us will have the same access to them as we do. Recycling e-waste is one way to make that happen.
Keeping toxic materials out of our soil and preserving our planets resources are very good reasons to recycle your e-waste. Another reason that recycling e-waste is so important is because it saves energy. For example, when aluminum is being recycled for a product 95% less energy is used than if the same product was made with "virgin" materials. This allows us to save our planets limited materials in many different ways at once.
Recycling e-waste is extremely important for many reasons. There are all sorts of different reasons that someone should be doing their part by recycling electronics. Whether it is keeping pollution of our environment down or to conserve our planets natural resources. Recycling e-Waste is just one more way to do your part to help preserve our planet for the generations to come.

Electronic Recycling e-Waste Recycling Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Paul_A_Buchanan

Plastics, Plastics is the Way to Go

Image via WikipediaThere is one thing that many in the e-waste business have to deal with is the plastic. Most of the computers and electronics in the world have some level of plastic on them. It is not all that easy to find a place that will accept the plastics.

When I first started I was using our city's recycling program to deal with the plastics. But it did not take long before the recycling guys decided that they did not want to pick up all that plastic. So I was stuck with finding something else. It was only later that I found out that the recycling guys were nearly fired for refusing to pick up the plastic because it is valuable for recycling.

Anyway it took me three days to find a place that would accept the plastic but I did not deal with them. The main reason is the fact that they were rude. When I call a company I expect to be treated as a customer should be but this was not the case.

About a week later I found a little known company that was less than an hour away from my shop. When I contacted them they were more than happy to help me with just about everything that I needed.

The fact about plastics is that they sell most times for just about the same per pound as standard steel, like the metal that is used in computer towers. The basic plastic that is used is known as ABS but some other kinds are used from time to time.

About the only thing that one must do is ensure that the plastics are separated by grade and type. The company that I am doing business with provides equipment to help with this separation.

Why E-Waste is a Great Business Model

Image via WikipediaMany people question me about the company that I run. They have it stuck in their minds that e-waste is not going to last and that there is very little money in it. They simply cannot wrap their minds around the fact that e-waste is a long term and highly lucrative business model.

Why? Well it is quite simple. For years consumers have been dealing with the fact that technology advances so fast that by the time someone has made a purchase of a computer or television there is something new on the market.

While there are people that just deal with the fact that they are behind the curve a little, there are others that have to be right up there with the best and the brightest. It is the second group that makes e-waste a great business model.

The more technology advances the more obsolete other technology becomes. When technology becomes obsolete people tend to get rid of it and that is great for those that are working in e-waste.

This trend is never going to change either. Electronics companies around the world continue to research and develop new technology that will be introduced to the masses. This is something that is making my job much easier and even more lucrative.

But this does not mean that e-waste is an easy business, the exact opposite actually. While there is not a lot of brain power necessary to tear down computers and electronics it can be a lot of hard work and heavy lifting.

When I started in this industry one of my first clients was a huge automotive factory. They had recently upgraded all of their computer systems and they had a good and plenty to get rid of. I had the right size vehicle for the job but I was the only one that could lift the items. So for two hours I loaded the van full of computers and monitors as well as other assorted items.

Then I had to get it back to the shop, unload it out of the van and stack it up until it could be processed. In the meantime my wife had already lined up three other pickups. So I was already behind when I started and there was plenty more work to do.

So it can be hard work but I find it very rewarding and there is nothing wrong with a hard days work to be sure.

Just like wine, older is better

Besides owning and operating an e-scrap company I am also a writer. Back when I first started writing I was sending out query letters to various agents around the country trying to generate some interest. Most of the responses were negative but one took it a bit further. You see, I am a humorist by nature and love to write things that will make people laugh. Well one agent replied that while he would be willing to read my book he noted that selling humor was like trying to sell old computers.

He made the entire statement sound insulting but in it was a bit of knowledge that he was not trying to give.

What I have learned over the years is that older computers are much better for anyone that is trying to make a buck, especially in e-scrap.

Lets take a look at why older is better....

First and foremost, many older computers contain higher quantities of gold and other precious metals. When gold became a widely used material in electronics the companies had yet to discover that it could be pounded into a micro thin layer. As such they were using higher amounts to ensure that the connections were secure.

This is exactly why many e-scrap companies actively seek out the older models. The older the model the better chance of getting high gold content.

Furthermore, the older computers from the 1970's and 1980's were made better than their contemporary counterparts of this day and age. I heard one computer tech say that new computers are simply throw away models. They have dropped so far in price that they are much easier for many people to afford. As such many choose to simply buy a new computer rather than paying to have their current model fixed.

But during the older days this was not the case. Some personal computers were selling for $10,000 or more. They were a major investment and not something that the average person was able to afford. Not only that, they were made to last. When you find an old computer it is not uncommon for it to still run despite the fact that it is 30 years old. They were made to run and run they did.

Now, old computers are valuable in two different ways.

First off they are valued for their high precious metal content. BUT, I do not scrap an older computer until I have tested it and checked on its overall value.

Older computers have become collectors items and many of the collectors are willing to pay high prices to add a new piece to their collection. This is especially true if the item is in working order or at the very least complete.

The above picture is the Osborne 1, a highly coveted machine in the collectible computers world. This unit was considered the first real portable computer for the market. Prices for this unit can reach the tens of thousands of dollars for the right collector, especially if it still functions.

Of course who can forget the old Apple computers. Apple designed and marketed the first computer that was affordable enough for the casual user. When they decided to donate to schools all over the US Apple was on the map and they are still a hot company. Some of their machines sell for high dollars in the collectible market.

So it is important to remember that older computers get better with age. Always cover your bets because the last thing you want to do is scrap out a machine that could have netted you $10,000 to a collector.

What We Do - Wastenot E-Cycling LLC

Image via WikipediaMy name is Craig Weaver and I am the owner and operator of Wastenot E-Cycling LLC.

Our company strives to help the environment by recycling all manner of electronic items from a wide variety of sources. We have helped many companies, non-profit organizations and individuals to reduce their environmental impact by removing all unwanted, non-working and obsolete electronic items from their locations.

Here at Wastenot E-Cycling we have a strict "No Landfill" policy. This means that every items and all parts of those items are recycled, leaving no trash to fill up the waste facility. Recycling actually aids in keeping prices lower as new material is required in smaller quantities when recycled material is present.

Wastenot E-Cycling is a family run company that strives to provide top of the line service to all of our clients. Keeping our clients happy is rule number one at our company.

Our Services

Unlike many other companies in the e-cycling world, Wastenot E-Cycling does NOT charge for electronics recycling. We offer free service to all clients, big or small.

We can schedule a pickup of your electronic items based on the individual needs that you have. For those that produce large quanities with limited space for storage we offer weekly and bi-weekly pickups.
For those that produce smaller quantities we offer monthly and as needed appointements.

Furthermore, our team of dedicated employees will do all the work. We will load all materials ourselves from whatever location is necessary, making it a hands off experience for all of our clients.

Data Destruction and Recycling Certificates

Wastenot E-Cycling provides 100% guaranteed data destruction for computers and storage devices that may have sensitive material stored within. We can provide a certificate of data destruction upon request for any items that have been recycled through our services.

We also provide recycling certificates for those that require them. The removal of assets from companies large and small carries with it certain tax implications and a certificate of recycling is the required documentation for those instances.

Contact Wastenot E-Cycling

Wastenot E-Cycling is here for you no matter what you may need. We have several contact methods that can be used to schedule a pickup or to simply ask some questions about the process.

Email: wastenotllc@gmail.com
Phone: 1-(260)433-1007