Is it against the law to throw away electronics? Is it against the law to dispose of computers? You’re likely to have asked this question as a consumer. It’s not as simple as you might think.
Chances are, you change your electronics every few years if you’re like many consumers. Some people throw away their old smartphones in a drawer or closet while others choose to toss them in the garbage.
Did you know that it might be illegal to throw away electronics depending on where you live? Businesses and consumers need to know how to properly dispose of computers. However, the information is very limited. Many people don’t realize that electronics are now prohibited from being disposed of in landfills. Even if your state does not prohibit you from throwing away electronics, it is important to educate all Americans about how to recycle electronics instead of throwing them out.
Electronics can be a dangerous addition to landfills and pose serious environmental hazards. The solution begins with spreading the message and people researching what their local community expects of them with unwanted electronics.
Is It Illegal To Throw Away Electronics Such As Computers?
Mobile devices and computers are becoming increasingly obsolete. What do you do with the older devices that are no longer in use? This is not including tablets, desktops, or laptops. Technology is rapidly changing. Every year, we produce around 40 million tonnes of electronic waste globally. This is equivalent to throwing away 69 million laptops per day. It is important that we do not waste our resources in the landfills. It may even be illegal.
Most people are aware that many states prohibit certain items from being disposed of in landfills. For example, paint, motor oil and medical waste are all common items.
Why Are These States Banning Electric Trash?
Are computers allowed to be thrown away? It can be difficult to know how to dispose of computers. But it is possible to find an electronics recycler. These states have a big problem to solve: consumers are replacing electronics more often. The amount of electronic waste generated is increasing at an alarming rate.
It is gone now that consumers no longer buy a computer, laptop, or cell phone but keep it for a decade.
However, just because these electronics are being replaced more frequently doesn’t make them obsolete. Many of the devices consumers are replacing work perfectly fine. They are only obsolete because they have been replaced by more advanced, technologically advanced versions.
These items could include metals such as gold, silver and copper that can still be used by manufacturers. Only 10-15% of the gold in electronic waste is successfully recovered internationally. The rest is lost.
The United Nations also reports that electronic waste is 50 times more valuable than ores from the earth.
Cellphones are a “Gold Mine”.
Cell phones are a “goldmine” According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 75 pounds gold, 772 pounds of silver and 33 pounds palladium can be recycled if there are one million smartphones.
This means that 75 pounds of precious metals and gold are lost for every million smartphones. This is a lot of revenue lost.
Only a tiny percentage of cell phones are recycled. Most of these phones end up collecting dust in drawers, or in the trash.
Why Is Recycling Important For Our Environment?
Actually, e-waste can’t be considered garbage or waste.
However, we want to avoid the harmful chemicals contained in these devices.
There is a strong need to increase the recycling rate for electronic waste as electronics are being thrown away at an increasing rate. Electronics recycling is important for many reasons.
Solid Waste Management is crucial because of the rapid increase in e-waste generated by the explosion in consumer electronics and the shorter product life cycles. These obsolete electronic devices can contain toxic substances such as lead, mercury and cadmium.
These toxic substances can leach into soil and water, posing serious health hazards to humans and wildlife if they are disposed of in a landfill.
States have taken steps to prevent this from happening, and started to enforce bans on electronics being thrown away or put in the trash. The proper processing of electronics ensures that they don’t end up in the environment.
How Can Consumers Recycle Their Electronic Waste?
Too often, people who feel comfortable recycling newspapers, cans, and bottles in their local recycling bin don’t know what they should do with their smartphones, computers, or other electronic devices. Some people keep small devices in a drawer or closet, while others think they can be safely thrown away.
While environmental groups are still trying to educate consumers about how important it is to recycle their e–waste, more states are making efforts to ensure that e–waste does not become a problem in landfills.
Conclusion: Can You Throw Away Electronics?
It is important to continue to reinforce the message that electronics should be recycled, and not thrown away. Recycling electronics is the right thing, even if your state does not prohibit you from disposing of them or placing them in the trash.
You can turn these devices over to eCycle Florida which has many years of experience in environmentally friendly electronic product recycling.
eCycle Florida will take apart these items and make them into components. The parts that have any value can then be sold to make new products. Metal recovery can be done with other parts.
eCycle Florida
eCycle Florida is an R2 Certified electronics recycling company in the state of Florida. Our processes and procedures are dedicated to the proper destruction and recycling of your electronics. eCycle Florida is your go-to when looking for an electronic recycling center in Florida. Check out the services in the multitude of industries that we offer:
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Contact eCycle Today to get more information on all your eCycle needs and check out our 5-star reviews!