Electronic waste is growing worldwide 5% or more All municipal solid waste. These discarded electronic products, commonly referred to as “electronic waste,” often end up in landfills, but they shouldn’t. Some of these items can be repaired or reused if they are still functional. If they are broken beyond repair, e-waste should be recycled to recover reusable materials.
Cell phones, computers, TVs, DVD players, stereos, and printers are some of the most common electronic items that can be recycled or reused. Other items include microwave ovens, refrigerators, air conditioners, lamps, toys, video game consoles, and power tools.
Recycling e-waste can recover valuable materials, including valuable metals like gold and copper, that manufacturers can use to make new products. This reduces the energy needed to mine, refine, and manufacture new materials, and reduces pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) main Recycling 1 million cell phones can recover approximately 35,000 pounds of copper, 33 pounds of palladium, 772 pounds of silver, and 75 pounds of gold. Surprisingly, the United States loses $10 billion a year by dumping valuable electronic waste in landfills. According to the Boston Consulting Group,.
furthermore, Estimated for 2024 According to the United Nations Training and Research Institute, only 22.3% of all e-waste is recycled internationally. In the United States, the average e-waste recycling rate is between 14% and 40%. According to research, nature. However, most e-waste still ends up in landfills or is incinerated, wasting valuable resources and harming the environment by releasing toxic chemicals like lead, mercury, cadmium and other pollutants into the soil, groundwater and atmosphere.
So what exactly happens when you recycle e-waste?
Export of electronic waste
In 2022, a record 62 million tons of electronic waste It is produced worldwide and the amount is expected to increase to 62 million tonnes by the end of the decade. UN report The United States produces about 11.6% of the world’s e-waste (7,188 tons) and collects only 56% of the materials at the end of their life. Much of the e-waste that is recycled is first shipped overseas to separate usable parts and extract metals for reuse in new products.
For recycling companies in the United States or Europe, it is often cheaper to outsource the labor required to disassemble and melt e-waste to countries such as: china or India. So currently, about 50% to 80% of the e-waste collected by recyclers is “exported.” The UN reports that China is the largest destination for exported e-waste, with about 70% of the world’s e-waste flowing into China.
The Risks of Electronics Recycling
Handling hazardous and/or toxic materials poses significant potential health risks to workers handling electronic waste. Specifically, processes such as component disassembly, chemical processing, and incineration all involve direct exposure to or inhalation of hazardous materials. One such common hazard is exposure to lead and other toxic metals. Another example of a hazardous material found in electronic recycling is mercury, which can be a dangerous neurotoxin.
If a facility does not have proper safety protocols, there is always a risk that workers and the surrounding community will be exposed to hazardous substances. For example, burning wires and cables increases dioxin levels. Dioxins are toxins that are known to increase the risk of cancer when inhaled by workers or nearby residents. Likewise, dioxins can contribute to general air pollution.
In some developing countries, people working in these occupations have very limited economic opportunities, so the recycling industry is a welcome opportunity for employment, despite the health risks.
How is electronic waste handled?
E-waste recycling is primarily the process of separating plastics from metals and internal circuitry. The efficiency of this material separation is the basis for economically viable electronics recycling, as e-waste streams must be processed in a way that separates the products that can be used to make new products. As a result, the first common step in e-waste processing is to mechanically shred the products into smaller pieces.
The specific recycling process varies depending on the material being recycled and the technology used, but there are some common steps. For example, at a recycling facility, workers may separate iron and steel from the waste stream on a conveyor belt with powerful overhead magnets, preparing it for resale as recycled steel.
Further mechanical processing separates the aluminum, copper, and circuit boards. This leaves the material stream mostly plastic. Then, water separation technology is often used to separate the glass and plastic. The final step is to further filter the material stream by finding and extracting any remaining metals from the plastic. The separated materials are then prepared to be sold as raw materials that can be used to produce new electronics or other products.
The Economics of E-Waste Recycling
IBIS World Estimated The U.S. electronics recycling industry is expected to generate nearly $27 billion in revenue by 2024. The volume of e-waste is growing rapidly, but the quality of e-waste can deteriorate. Devices are getting smaller and therefore using less precious metals. As a result, the material value of many electronic devices has plummeted. The global price paid for recycled goods has plummeted, hurting electronics recyclers by reducing profit margins. Another obstacle is that many new products are manufactured in ways that make them more difficult to recycle, repair, or reuse.
At this time, There are laws in 25 states in the US Requires statewide e-waste recycling. State e-waste recycling laws are said to affect about 65% of Americans. Not to mention that some states have outright bans on dumping e-waste in landfills, the primary alternative to e-waste recycling.
Find out which organizations in your area help with e-waste recycling. Earth911 Recycling Search or Call2Recycle Battery Disposal Search Explore options near you.
About the Author
Wesley Poritz is the founder and owner. Big Sky Recycling. Harnessing the power of mobile phones and electronics, Big Sky Recycling is committed to reducing electronic waste and using profits as a means to a greater purpose. Making a positive impact on our employees, our community, and the environment. Big Sky Recycling’s Phone Recycling Program It’s a simple, safe and free way to donate your phone to charity.
This article was originally published on July 13, 2020 and has been updated with the latest data as of August 2024.
