There is a lot of electronic waste in the United States, but only about 25% of it is recycled; the rest is incinerated or thrown away. This is why hiring commercial junk removal is essential, as they know how to properly get rid of the things you throw away.
The mining and manufacturing of electronic materials, such as metals, glass, and plastics, require enormous amounts of energy. When it comes to disposal, it’s not as easy as throwing an old battery into a garbage bag and taking it to the dump.
There are some things we discard far less often than single-use plastic from things we consume on a daily basis, such as old TV sets, worn-out keyboards, and defunct smartphones, yet their impact on the environment can be just as severe.
What is Electronic Waste?
It is anything electronic that has reached or is nearing the end of its useful life—like an old phone, computer, or tablet. As frequently as these electronics are discarded, donated, or given to a recycler, some of them are refurbished so that they can be used again, and others can be stripped of precious metals to make new electronics.
It is also possible to have hazardous outcomes when attempting to dispose of e-waste. Depending on their condition and density, some electronic components contain hazardous materials. Mercury, lead, cadmium, polybrominated flame retardants, barium, and lithium are some chemicals that can be contained in materials.
The brain, heart, liver, kidneys, and skeletal system are among the body parts where hazardous materials can cause harm.
Why is Electronic Waste on the Rise?
The integration of technology into every aspect of our lives is growing more and more prevalent. In addition to wearable monitors, smart homes, and TVs that stream content from the internet—semiconductors, and sensors are being added to products never before equipped with them.
A growing middle class has become more accustomed to using electronic devices since prices are dropping.
As a culture of use-and-throw-away gadgets, our smartphones are not the only thing that is subject to being upgraded. All of our products are held to a high standard due to our obsession with constantly advancing technology, and this contributes to the growth of e-waste problems.
Electronic Waste: Why Should It Be Disposed of Properly?
There is potential value in recycling e-waste—copper, aluminum, lithium, and gold are common materials in old electronic equipment. It reduces the extraction of virgin resources and saves energy when these materials are recycled. Depending on the condition of the old equipment, it may be possible to refurbish it for reuse or break it down for parts.
Professional recyclers are among those who gain employment because of e-waste recycling. As a result, a secondary market has been created with recycled materials as the primary commodity.
Lead and arsenic are among the toxic materials contained in electronic equipment. Humans and wildlife in the area are at risk of exposure to these substances if they leach out of landfills. In the environment, these chemicals can persist for many years since they are not biodegradable, and electronic waste has a different chemical composition depending on its type and age.
A landfill can leak these contaminants into the ground and eventually reach water if they are improperly handled or disposed of. It is also possible for heavy metals to contaminate rivers, lakes, streams, and ponds after they have reached groundwater. Communities, animals, and plants that rely on these water tables are toxic and unusable because of these heavy metals.
What is the Process for Recycling Electronic Waste?
We can also salvage certain materials from electronics we throw away and use them to create or upgrade new devices. E-waste recycling saves natural resources, reduces pollution, conserves landfill space, and creates employment by recovering valuable metals and materials.
Materials and recycling technologies can influence how recycling is conducted. It is necessary to process and separate e-waste materials once they have been collected and transported to the recycling center.
Collection
Electronic products are collected first by means of recycling bins, collection locations, take-back programs, or on-demand services for recycling. In the end, the mixed e-waste is disposed of at a recycling center that specializes in electronic waste in Orange County.
Transport to Certified Electronics Recycler
Before recycling your old electronics, you need to make sure they are wiped out of all private data by a specialized facility. Moreover, you should ensure that the facility follows proper recycling protocols for electronics and is environmentally friendly.
Shredding and Sorting
In the following steps, e-waste is shredded and sorted after it has been collected and transported. The purpose of shredding is to break down electronic waste into smaller pieces in order to properly sort it.
Manually sorting and dismantling these tiny prices is carried out by hand. The separation of waste items is typically labor-intensive at this stage since different parts must be retrieved. In the following step, the materials are categorized into core and component materials. In the next step, these items are categorized into different groups.
Separation
In the waste stream on the conveyor, iron, and steel are separated by a powerful overhead magnet. After the steel material has been separated, it is processed into recycled steel, which can then be sold. By separating aluminum, copper, and circuit boards mechanically from the plastic stream, aluminum, copper, and circuit boards become available.
Processes are conducted using advanced separation technologies. Further purification of the stream occurs during the final step in the separation process.
Recovery
Material separation has been completed, and the materials are being prepared for sale and reuse. There might be a need to join another recycling stream if a material, such as plastic or steel, is in need of recycling.
In the early stages of the process, some may be processed on-site and sold directly, while others may be sold alongside the usable components separately.
How We Can Help You With Your Commercial Junk Removal
With our hauling services in Orange County, you can count on quality services. Both residential and commercial customers are served by our garbage disposal services, hauling services, and commercial junk removal services.
The ultimate professional experience is what we strive for when it comes to serving our customers. Our team of professionals can take care of any project, regardless of how large or small.
To learn more about how to get rid of your e-waste properly, contact us at 714-898-8026 at West Coast Property Maintenance today!
