New smartphones, TVs and laptops enter the marketplace at an ever-quickening pace, and many gadget-loving consumers feel compelled to have the latest and greatest with the most buzz. As a result, they find themselves with a growing stash of gizmos in need of disposal.
Trashed computers, TVs and other gadgets make up the fastest-growing municipal waste stream in the U.S., according to the Environmental Protection Agency. As much as 80% of electronic waste goes out with the trash, the EPA estimates, while only about 20% is properly recycled.
“Everyone has e-waste. Whether it’s your mom who has three cellphones in her desk or your dad who owns the largest corporation in the world,” says John Shegerian, the CEO of Electronic Recyclers International, which handles a large amount of recycled electronics. Overall, the recycling industry accounts for $236 billion in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Recycling Economic Information Study commissioned by the EPA.
Recycling of many materials — such as glass, paper and plastics — is common practice for many Americans. Yet, when eco-conscious people want to winnow down a growing stash of unneeded tech products, how do they do that in an environmentally friendly way?
For starters, don’t just throw your electronics in the trash.
Many gadgets have toxic materials in them that might be released in a landfill or when burned in an incinerator, says Barbara Kyle, national coordinator for the Electronics Take-Back Coalition. “It seems pretty obvious, but it’s not to a lot of people,” Kyle says.
Awareness of the e-waste problem has grown, prompting about half the states to pass some sort of e-waste recycling law. But consumers who want to get rid of unwanted devices properly have a growing list of options:
Source: USA TODAY
By Rachel Roubein and Mike Snider