At the beginning of the week we kicked things off with America Recycles Day, where we discussed the importance of recycling, and ways to recycle from your home, work, at school, and even in your community. To wind down the week let’s talk about another king of recycling, something most don’t consider.
Society has become increasingly dependent upon technology in almost every aspect of daily life, and every year each piece of machinery is updated and released in a new model which, let’s be honest, everyone has to have. This means we typically just get rid of our old devices, even if they have not yet reached the end of their lifecycle. According to The World Counts, 300 million computers and 1 billion cellphones go into production each year, and these numbers are only expected to grow. In order to manufacture new electronic devices, many raw materials that require excess amounts of resources and energy must be mined. Recycling old electronics helps protect the environment and brings us one step closer toward a sustainable future.
Despite what most people may believe, e-waste is potentially more dangerous than any other. Precious metals such as gold, silver, platinum, and palladium to manufacture new electronics. When left in landfills for long periods of time the chemicals inside these metals are absorbed into the soil and eventually contaminate groundwater, which then filters into our drinking water. When not recycled, electronic waste is also taken to incinerators, which can release harmful gases into the atmosphere and pollute the air. Recycling electronics eliminates the need for them to be sent to landfills and incinerators, and conserves the metals inside for future reuse.
IT asset disposition enterprises like HOBI International Inc. collect old, retired electronics and ensure that they are properly disposed of in a safe and environmentally friendly manner. Recycling your old devices doesn’t just help the environment, but also has economic benefits as well. Electronics recycling helps expand the ITAD and recycling industries, and creates more new jobs. Some ITAD facilities even offer repair services. HOBI offers repair and refurbishment options for all tablets and mobile devices, providing a chance to extend the life cycle of the device and reduce the amount of raw materials needed to manufacture more electronics.
For more information about our ITAD services, call 877-814-2620, or contact HOBI at sales@hobi.com.