Recycling Electronic Scrap
It’s considered no big deal these days for people to throw away electronic equipment that may have been purchased only a few years or even months previously. The rapid advancement of computing and other communications technologies has seen the obsolescence cycle of electronic equipment becoming shorter and shorter. As a result there is an ever growing tide of obsolete computers and other electronic products finding its way to landfill sites across the globe. The problems associated with disposing of electronic scrap in landfill (there are a number of toxic substances that go into the manufacture of electronic goods which can leach their way into the environment if these items are disposed of thoughtlessly) and also the risk inherent in leaking sensitive company data or the non-public health and financial data of customers and employees, has not gone un-noticed. In Europe since 2004, the EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive has tackled the rising tide of electronic scrap by requiring manufacturers to take back equipment for recycling. This has been aided by improvements in technology which allow for the effective dissolving of solder used in circuit boards yet have no effect on the performance of the electronic components. This process allows for almost 100% recoverability of the precious metals used in electronic componentry. As you may be starting to gather, the destruction of electronic scrap isn’t easy, so you really want to be making sure that your old electronic goods are making it into the hands of an electronic scrap recycling company that knows how to recycle the materials that can be recycled and safely dispose of those materials which are hazardous. There are companies who specialize in electronic scrap recycling. Following are some of the steps that you might like to take when contacting these companies: 1. Firstly find out what sort of electronic scrap each company will accept. Most companies will specify that they accept all types of computers, televisions and electronic accessories or that they only accept computers and accessories. These companies will almost surely not accept electrical white goods such as old fridges or washing machines. 2. Obtain a quote for recycling electronic scrap. A lot of companies will offer a quick quote online for the different types of services that they offer but you may also be required to talk to one of the company’s representatives as the recycling of electronic scrap can be a complicated process. 3. Obtain appropriate containers for the storage of electronic scrap. Some companies offer online order of containers and shipment for recycling outdated electronics but you can also schedule a pick up for recycling electronic scrap. 4. Ensure that you're dealing with a reputable company. Don't just trust any company to recycle your electronic scrap. Make some enquiries into their recycling processes and also check to see that they can issue you with a certificate of destruction (if appropriate) when disposing of old computer equipment.
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