Today marks the fourth annual International E-Waste Day, developed by the WEEE Forum to raise awareness about the proper disposal of e-waste, and highlight the importance of recycling electronics, with an overall goal of raising re-use, recovery and recycling rates.
As recently as 2019, a total of 53.6 million metric tonnes of electronic waste was generated, and only 17.4% was collected and properly recycled. E-waste is not as easily disposed of as regular waste, tossing your old cell phone, computer or tablet into the waste bin will do more harm than good, and may even be dangerous in some cases. Electronics contain an abundance of precious metals that require time, energy and money to mine, and recycling old electronics helps limit the amount of raw materials needed to manufacture more devices. If not disposed of properly, chemicals in the devices can soak into the ground, contaminate landfills and pollute water supply through leachate. Another thing to consider is the damage Lithium Ion batteries can cause when they are not disposed of properly. LIBs are known to cause fires when they are damaged, and have been the cause of numerous fires between 2013 and 2020. This is why it is extremely important to turn to trained professionals who take special safety measures to minimize potential fire risks when it comes to disposing of electronics.
IT asset disposition facilities collect old electronic devices and ensure proper disposal and that every caution is taken when processing IT assets before recycling. Reuse and refurbishment is a major key in the disposition process, and helps prolong the life cycle of old devices that aren’t quite ready to be recycled. Purchasing refurbished electronics contributes to limiting the need for more raw materials and helps keep our planet a little greener.
HOBI International Inc. offers a range of mobile services including repair, refurbishment and resale of old cell phones. For more information about our ITAD services, call 877-814-2620, or contact HOBI at sales@hobi.com.