E-Waste is Still a Significant Problem

The world manufactures over 50 million tons of e-waste every year as consumers and companies throw out their smartphones, computers, and appliances, less than 20 percent of which is properly recycled. The other 80 percent winds up in a landfill or broken down improperly. Let's spend some time reviewing society's increasing e-waste problem and what industry professionals are doing to reduce it.

The E-Waste Issue
Plastic waste has become a significant problem over the past few years, but society came up with an effective system to manage this problem. E-waste, however, despite being nearly all recyclable remains a major issue. E-waste is actually a remarkably expensive issue for the world, with some reports placing the value of e-waste as high as $62.5 billion, which is more than the GDP of most countries, to put it in perspective.

With less than 20% of all e-waste being recycled properly, most devices end up in landfills, taking up space in developing countries and exposing people to dangerous substances. E-waste that finds itself in a landfill might be burned, in turn spilling toxic and hazardous materials into the air, or contaminating soil and groundwater, producing further problems for countries unable to manage the sheer volume of e-waste.

Several initiatives have been attempted to change the way we approach the problem. Some think that making devices more durable will resolve it, as devices will be less likely to break and more long-lasting. Others think that a buy-back program is the best approach because it encourages users to trade their old devices in for a new one, enhancing the odds that the old devices will be properly recycled. In the end, it becomes a question of whether the device, and the resources used to create it, will be thrown out and become unused.

How Your Business Can Help
It might seem like your organization won’t make much of a difference on its own, but every little bit helps. You can begin by being more mindful of how your business handles unnecessary technological assets, like workstations, smartphones, laptops, and other IT-related devices and components.

• E-waste recyclers: Your local businesses may have opportunities to recycle unused devices, so look into your options before throwing that device in the trash.
• Repurpose old devices: Do you have an old monitor that’s not seeing much use these days due to being replaced? You can turn it into a digital signage system to aid in displaying important information to your office.
• Donate devices: If you have unused devices in the office, think about donating them to the less fortunate. Just because you have the latest smartphone and junked your old one doesn’t mean that the old device was bad or unusable.

You also need to make sure that any devices you want to recycle are wiped of any company and personal data, so be sure to work with a technology professional to make this happen. Macro Systems can help you make this happen. We can also help you make the most out of your old devices, whether it’s recycling them or repurposing them for other uses. To learn more, reach out to us at 703-359-9211.