HOBI Weekly Blog Recap (5/23-26/22)
University of Illinois researchers have recently developed silicon circuit boards and chips that can be completely dissolved in water. This new innovation could significantly reduce the growing e-waste problem, resulting in far greener electronic devices.
By the year 2017, the Earth will feel the weight of as much as eight additional Egyptian Pyramids, leaving the burden of cleaning up the mess to electronics recyclers.
A reported 50 million tons of obsolete electronics were thrown away last year, and ideas for shrinking that number run from straightforward recycling programs to turning old gadgets into gold. Dissolvable circuit boards and chips offer up another way to expand on mobile device innovation. Such technology is likely still several years away but there is promise for the future.
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E-waste represents 2 percent of America’s trash in landfills, but an astonishing 70 percent of overall toxic waste! Not only the shell of the device is considered e-waste; it’s really what’s in the electronics that matters. The U.S. EPA estimates that recycling 1 million mobile phones reclaims 35,274 pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold, and 33 pounds of palladium.
The EPA also reported the U.S. collects and recycles about 27 percent of its disposed electronics. By carelessly tossing over 130 million devices every year, each U.S. household now spends around $1,200 per year on new electronics gadgets, all of which will be disposed of in a few years time.
The global industry is expected to quadruple in the next few years making it the most lucrative time for electronics recycling as it gains awareness and momentum.
HOBI International, a leader in electronics recycling, realizes the detrimental affects e-waste has on the environment. Our top-tier environmental services ensure all hazardous and non-hazardous materials are recovered in an environmentally sound manner, eliminating risk for our valued clients. Due to our upstanding R2/RIOS certifications, HOBI clients trust that our environmental services are continually updated for complete compliance with standards and regulations for electronics recycling and remarketing.
Other innovations to the war on e-waste:
Mushrooms to reclaim gold from e-waste
EU Approves Universal Charger to Reduce e-waste
Mobile asset management program provides e-wasteless year-end for businesses
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