What is E-waste?

Electronic waste, e-waste, or e-scrap is defined as any electronic device that has reached or is nearing the end of its life. This can include anything from microwaves and treadmills to office equipment and more.

What Products are Considered Electronic Waste?

Although there is a long list of items that can be classified as electronic waste, there is a specific category that is often the focus of concern.

In particular, we are referring to the e-waste categories of computers and small electronic devices.

Here is a partial list of electronic waste that can be recycled:

Additionally, business, IT, and office equipment can be included in this category of electronics.

How Do Electronic Products Become E-waste?

When electronics are no longer wanted or being used, they can be classified as electronic waste.

There are many reasons why consumers and corporations would choose to get rid of electronic products:

• The product is broken of malfunctioning.
• The product has been replaced with an updated model.
• The consumer simply does not use the item.

How Much E-waste is Generated?

Globally, we generate over 50 million tons of electronic waste each year. On average, only 17% of that waste is sustainably recycled. While it is difficult to estimate how much e-waste is generated by consumers vs. corporations, specifically, we can look at the major contributing categories.

For example, of that 50 million tons, over 30% is made up of our small electronics like microwaves and cameras. Another major contributor at 28% is our dishwashers and washing machines. Even cellphones and laptops make up a surprising 7% of the electronic waste that ends up in landfills each year.

The Danger of Improperly Disposing of Electronic Waste

In our everyday use, modern electronics are safe to use. However, once they’re disposed of, these electronics can be harmful to the surrounding environment, humans, and wildlife.

Since most electronics contain some form of toxic materials, including lead, mercury, cadmium, and beryllium, these dangerous toxins can be released into the soil, air, and water when not disposed of correctly.

When electronics are buried or burned in landfills, their toxic materials dissolve into a toxic sludge that contaminates the surrounding soil and water.

Unfortunately, the traces of lead and harmful chemicals aren’t exclusive to the water beneath the landfills.

They can also be detected in the groundwater and drinking water within 3 miles, sometimes more. This is harmful to plant life and wildlife and leads to some physical and neurological conditions for the people who come into contact with the water.

The Benefits of Recycling E-waste

Luckily, e-waste can be recycled to minimize the adverse effects on the environment. When recycled properly, the toxic materials inside of e-waste can be extracted, preventing them from polluting our air, water, and soil. 

Additionally, recycling helps to save natural resources by reclaiming materials like steel, glass, aluminum, copper, gold, and silver to be reused. 

Finally, recycling helps to reduce the amount of space that landfills occupy to accommodate our electronics.

How to Properly Dispose of E-waste

There are many ways to recycle or properly dispose of e-waste. Fortunately, one of the easiest methods is to utilize the services of a local electronics recycling service.

If you’re looking for an electronics recycling center in Atlanta, Ecycle Atlanta is a safe, easy, and free solution.

To help individuals and businesses recycle their electronics safely, we offer the following services, free of charge: