Are you looking to eliminate e-waste this summer? E-waste is a unique waste stream that can be pretty stressful to deal with because of its material components. It is considered hazardous because of the toxic metals like mercury, lead, cadmium, chromium, zinc, nickel, and beryllium. E-waste includes all electronics and electrical devices like TVs, cellphones, computers, cameras, computer equipment, appliances, and batteries. The consumer market for electronics is exploding, meaning new smartphones, laptops, and TVs hit the market daily, increasing the number of obsolete electronics in our homes and offices. Below is a complete Phoenix e-waste guide to help you purge and safely get rid of all electronic waste this summer.
Your Summer 2022 Phoenix E-Waste Guide:
What are the most common types of E-waste?
Understanding the common types of E-waste can help you figure out the best way to handle and dispose of them. E-waste comprises communication gadgets like smartphones, tablets, laptops, telephones, monitors, scanners, printers, cameras, and radios. It also includes entertainment electronics like LCD and plasma TVs, gaming consoles, cathode ray tubes, DVD players, MP3, CDs, amplifiers, recorders, audio equipment, and record players.
Your obsolete kitchen and laundry appliances also fit in the electronic waste category: microwave, dishwasher, electric kettle, blender, fridge/freezer, toaster, pressure cooker, grinder, oven, etc.
How do you dispose of e-waste?
Data shows that e-waste contributes to 70% of overall toxic waste, and only 15% of electronic waste is recycled out of the whopping 6.92 million tons generated per year. This shows that millions of tons of this toxic garbage likely end up in our landfills.
Landfilling e-waste can lead to metals contaminating the groundwater, adversely affecting human and animal health. Furthermore, they are not biodegradable, meaning it can take many years for e-waste to break down completely. With that in mind, below are ways to manage your e-waste in Phoenix.
Recycle or reuse
That’s right! You can recycle and reuse your old electronics. Sometimes, it’s just the technology that changed, and the device itself is functional. You can consider upgrading the software and continue using it instead of buying a new one. Also, repairing old electronics can extend their lifespan. Old gadgets have valuable metals that can be recovered and used in manufacturing. This will eliminate the need to mine raw materials to manufacture new products, saving the natural resources for future generations.
E-waste recycling can save energy since turning them into valuable products takes less than processing virgin materials. Where to recycle e-waste in Phoenix? There are many local e-waste recyclers you can consider or take-back programs.
Sell
Another disposal option for e-waste is to sell them as pre-owned items. True to the proverbial one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, there is a ready market for pre-owned electronics. If damaged, you can refurbish it before selling it and make extra money from obsolete electronics.
There are many ways to market and find a buyer for your old devices. For instance, you can sell them online through eBay, Instagram, or Facebook Marketplace. Alternatively, you can host a garage sale and sell unwanted electronics with other stuff you want to dispose of.
Donate
Check if your electronic equipment is functional and consider giving them away to charity, schools, or the local community accepting donations. Donating is an excellent way to find a second home for unwanted electronics, saving landfill space while doing good for the community. Ensure to remove your personal information and data before donating old electronics.
Sustainable summer 2022 Phoenix e-waste guide
Summer is the perfect term to purge and dispose of junk. Whatever size of trash you have in Phoenix, Team Clean and Haul can help, and we provide sustainable disposal solutions for all garbage types. Contact us today!