New technology is always coming out, and a computer or phone that was purchased just a few years ago might already be outdated. But if you choose to replace it, what happens tot he old technology? Electronic waste, including old TVs, computers, cell phones, game consoles, and other products, can be recycled just like paper, plastic or metal. Here are some of the top reasons why it’s important to recycle e-waste.
One major reason is that recycling e-waste conserves resources. Many electronics contain trace amounts of metals such as silver, gold, copper, and aluminum, meaning that metal can be taken from these items rather than mined from the earth. The mining process can have severe environmental impacts, including ecosystem damage and pollution from waste products. By recycling e-waste, people can reduce the need to mine for new minerals simply by reusing the metals we have now.
But valuable metals aren’t the only material that electronics are made of; some of them (especially older models) can contain chemicals and heavy metals that can prove dangerous to humans. E-waste that is disposed of improperly can leach some of these substances into the surrounding environment, putting the people that live there at risk. Recycling helps to ensure that these materials are disposed of properly, increasing safety and improving public health.
In addition, recycling e-waste reduces energy consumption. It takes less energy to reprocess recycled materials than it does to process new ones, and recycling can help to reduce the amount of electricity that is used. In turn, this helps to reduce the burning of coal and other fossil fuels, lowering carbon emissions and helping to protect the planet’s atmosphere.
Another good reason to recycle is that it helps to reduce landfill usage. The plastics, metals, and glass in old electronics do not break down easily, and they can easily remain in a landfill for hundreds or thousands of years. This makes it more difficult to find an appropriate place to store them and leads to increasingly unsustainable land use for storing our garbage.
Economically, recycling e-waste is good because it helps create jobs. It take more people to break down an old TV than it does to haul it to a landfill, and so recycling e-waste helps boost the economy a little.
Finally, recycling your e-waste helps you to feel good about yourself. You get the pride and satisfaction of knowing that you are doing your part to improve the world you live in. Whether you’re replacing your laptop, getting a new phone, or throwing out your old VHS player, be sure to recycle your e-waste.
Visit this website for more information on appliance recycling in San Jose.
One major reason is that recycling e-waste conserves resources. Many electronics contain trace amounts of metals such as silver, gold, copper, and aluminum, meaning that metal can be taken from these items rather than mined from the earth. The mining process can have severe environmental impacts, including ecosystem damage and pollution from waste products. By recycling e-waste, people can reduce the need to mine for new minerals simply by reusing the metals we have now.
But valuable metals aren’t the only material that electronics are made of; some of them (especially older models) can contain chemicals and heavy metals that can prove dangerous to humans. E-waste that is disposed of improperly can leach some of these substances into the surrounding environment, putting the people that live there at risk. Recycling helps to ensure that these materials are disposed of properly, increasing safety and improving public health.
In addition, recycling e-waste reduces energy consumption. It takes less energy to reprocess recycled materials than it does to process new ones, and recycling can help to reduce the amount of electricity that is used. In turn, this helps to reduce the burning of coal and other fossil fuels, lowering carbon emissions and helping to protect the planet’s atmosphere.
Another good reason to recycle is that it helps to reduce landfill usage. The plastics, metals, and glass in old electronics do not break down easily, and they can easily remain in a landfill for hundreds or thousands of years. This makes it more difficult to find an appropriate place to store them and leads to increasingly unsustainable land use for storing our garbage.
Economically, recycling e-waste is good because it helps create jobs. It take more people to break down an old TV than it does to haul it to a landfill, and so recycling e-waste helps boost the economy a little.
Finally, recycling your e-waste helps you to feel good about yourself. You get the pride and satisfaction of knowing that you are doing your part to improve the world you live in. Whether you’re replacing your laptop, getting a new phone, or throwing out your old VHS player, be sure to recycle your e-waste.
Visit this website for more information on appliance recycling in San Jose.