Why Recycling is the Best Disposition Method 

Electronics can pile up over time and eventually become a headache, but many consumers need help disposing of them properly. Several standard methods are used to dispose of unwanted or retired IT assets, but only one is environmentally friendly while protecting the health of those in surrounding areas. 

One of the most common places to dispose of electronics is in landfills, which may seem like a good idea, but in reality, it can cause extreme illness for those living nearby when exposed to toxic chemicals. Electronics are made with precious metals such as gold, silver, mercury, lead, platinum, and aluminum. These metals contain poisonous chemicals that leak into the soil and contaminate the groundwater, polluting the surrounding water supply. As a result, residents nearby could ingest the polluted water and develop serious health issues. 

Many have turned to incinerators to prevent pollution, but the toxic chemicals pollute the air rather than the groundwater when electronics are burned. In 2019, a study was conducted on illegal e-waste burning, which determined that the e-waste burning had significantly contributed to the high levels of air pollution at the three monitored sites. These findings were associated with cardiovascular morbidity amongst the residents of the third site, indicating that the health issue may have been the result of long-term exposure to air pollution from illegal incineration. 

Electronics recycling is a safe, environmentally friendly alternative to landfills and incineration. IT asset disposition enterprises like HOBI collect unwanted IT assets like computers, laptops, printers, smartphones, etc., and ensure they are disposed of correctly. E-waste recycling includes additional services like data erasure, device repair and refurbishment, and remarketing opportunities for assets that have yet to reach the end of their lifecycle. 

ITAD enterprises prioritize the environment and work to reduce the pollution and contamination produced by e-waste. HOBI focuses explicitly on maximizing economic return and mitigating potential environmental liability. HOBI is R2v3, RIOS, and ISO-14001 certified, ensuring all equipment is processed under full legislative compliance. 

For more information about our ITAD services, call 877-814-262 or contact HOBI at sales@hobi.com.