Benefits of Electronics Recycling

Posted on Mar 30 2021 - 6:57am by Editor

The purpose of recycling is to turn old products into new raw materials, preventing or reducing waste. This process is especially important in an industry in which the newest gadget becomes obsolete within a year of hitting the shelves. Consumers are typically sitting on a mountain of old electronics, so they may consider contacting a local recycling company, such as a Fort Lauderdale electronics recycling company.

Recycling protects the environment

Environmental

Electronics are the fastest-growing type of waste, estimated at 4 million tons per year. Recycling protects the environment. However, recycling electronics has several environmental benefits. First, old electronics are not filling landfills because electronic waste is significantly reduced.

In addition, electronics contain dangerous chemicals and metals, such as mercury and cadmium, that do not biodegrade and can contaminate the land and groundwater. Keeping these products out of landfills prevents this contamination.

Raw Materials

Electronics have many valuable metals and other raw materials. For example, they gold, palladium, silver and other precious metals. These metals as well as the cadmium, lithium and other materials must be mined.

Mining can also be reduced if the materials in electronics are recycled. Reductions in mining reduce natural resource consumption and reduce the damage to ecosystems.

Economic

Recycling produces raw materials that can be used to create new electronics, saving energy and reducing the cost of these materials. Also, this type of waste has many valuable metals, such as gold and silver, which can be extracted and reused. For example, a ton of circuit boards contain 800 times more gold than a ton of mined gold ore. As electronics sales increase, these raw materials become scarcer, resulting in much higher prices, but if they can be extracted, electronics prices can be reduced significantly.

Some states even provide incentives to businesses that recycle electronic waste. Therefore, not only are their production costs reduced, but they may receive tax breaks or other financial benefits if they recycle their electronic waste.

Electronics recycling also creates jobs.

Business Reputation

Most individuals are increasingly concerned about the environment, so they like to support businesses that are environmentally friendly. Employees want to work with companies who take their environmental responsibility seriously. In addition, consumers want to purchase from businesses that recycle and use recycled materials to produce their products. The support of both consumers and employees produces a competitive advantage for businesses with a reputation for recycling.

If you are tired of your mountain of old electronics, consider donating them to a reputable recycling company.