About 2 percent of all landfill content in the United States alone is electronic waste. But, e-waste represents an incredible 70 percent of all toxic material waste. Worldwide, 20 to 50 million metric tons of electronic waste are disposed each year. Of that, approximately 9.4 million tons is produced by Americans. And, 12.5 percent of electronic waste is recycled, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
4 Electronic Waste Disposal Options
We find these devices throughout our homes and work-spaces. Televisions, DVD players, office machines, laptops, tablets, smartphones, desktops and many more, all become electronic waste the moment they are no longer useful. These are joined by everyday appliances, which only add to the logistics of dealing with such waste. For instance, if you know a dishwasher is going bad, it will eventually fail.
Cell phones continue to top of the list. Roughly nine-in-ten American adults (92 percent) own a mobile phone of some kind. Although these mobile devices are ubiquitous today, the share of adults who own one has risen substantially since 2004, when Pew Research conducted its first poll on cell ownership. At that time, 65 percent of Americans owned a cellphone. --Pew Research Center
The fact of the matter is, it's extraordinary difficult to manage so much waste. Even other common household items, like leftover paint has its uses but at some point, must be thrown out. And that's where many people run into problems. Unlike ordinary household trash, when it comes to electronic waste disposal, appliances and hazardous materials, you can't simply put it on the curb for pick up. So, when you need electronic waste disposal, just what are your options? What can you possibly do with items which are of no use to you? Well, here are four electronic waste disposal options you can try:
- Give it or sell it to a local repair shop. There is probably at least one or two local repair shops in your area. These businesses repair computers, smartphones, DVD players and so on. Ask if any of your electronics are needed for their parts. You might be able to sell the electronics or give them away (so you don't have to deal with it anymore).
- Look into local recycling centers. Some large retailers offer recycling options for electronic waste. Before you cart that stuff to one of these recycling collection spots, be sure to call ahead and ask what is and what isn't accepted.
- Try repurposing that e-waste. Another option is to repurpose parts of the electronic waste. You might be able to use components in other devices or give a device a new purpose. For instance, an old desktop can serve as external storage or as a hand-me-down.
- Sell it to hobbyists online. You can attempt to sell your e-waste online to hobbyists. For example, if you have several smartphones or tablets, they might be appealing to someone else. You can find their market value by looking at the same items listed for sale.
If you need electronic waste disposal, just phone 800-433-1094 or visit AAA Rousse Services. We will handle this for you, as well as anything else you might need. So, if you need appliance removal, we'll gladly lend a helping hand.