Responsible E-waste Disposal – Mechanicsburg, PA
E-waste is not only electrical gear or electronics that are broken, near the end of their useful life, or no longer work, but also items that are still working perfectly but are no longer wanted. They have been replaced with the latest model that offers new features.
The lifecycle of electronic equipment is getting shorter each year and consumption rates are rising. This is why e-waste is becoming the fastest growing waste stream all over the world. Repairing broken devices is often not an option, as it costs more than a replacement, adding to the e-waste problem.
Consumers keep buying new devices as technology improves constantly. We all want to upgrade to the latest model when it is released, which is why demand is high.
Electronic Products include:
Mobile phones
Laptops
Desktop computers
Printers and scanners
Musical instruments
Fridges
Freezers
Solar panels
Toasters
LED bulbs
Vending machines
Games consoles
Kettles
Tablets
Microwaves
Radios
Televisions and monitors
Treadmills
These products are all destined to become e-waste.
The Effects of E-waste disposal on Our Environment
E-waste is known to have a devastating effect on our environment. All electronic items contain toxic chemicals like dioxins, mercury, cadmium, and others which are dangerous to human life.
When e-waste is disposed of in a landfill, after a while these chemicals begin to leach into groundwater and surrounding soil.
Once these chemicals have polluted the area, this leachate poses a danger to the environment as a whole, including humans and wildlife living there.
Fume from this e-waste gets released into the atmosphere and causes more damage.
One of the metals to leach from e-waste is mercury, a toxic substance that causes brain damage.
The leachate from the affected groundwater and soils finds its way into our fruit and vegetables that we consume.
This leachate also finds its way into the oceans, poisoning marine life.
The problem is extensive as e-waste has been dumped in landfills across the globe for many years now. In the US alone, the Environmental Protection Agency has estimated that up to 60 million metric tons of e-waste is dumped in landfills every year. The United Nations has warned that this figure could reach 72.8 million tons by 2030.
How can we solve the problem of E-waste?
Recycle
Recycling is the most important solution to this problem. 70% of materials used inside these electronics can be collected through recycling, and repurposed into new goods or raw materials.
In Pennsylvania law restricts certain electronics from being disposed of in your household trash because of these toxic metals they contain. These devices that must be recycled include Computers, Computer peripherals such as mouse, keyboards, printers, monitors, and Televisions.
Electronic waste such as computers and televisions are non-acceptable waste for Mechanicsburg.
For items that are not accepted by the County, or if you have a business that needs to dispose of or recycle electronic goods, you will need to work through a private company like Junk Removal Mechanicsburg, PA. We at Junk Removal Mechanicsburg will remove these items for you, and you can rest assured we make sure that they are recycled where possible or disposed of in a responsible manner.
Remember to delete all personal information from the hard drive of these electronics before disposing of them to prevent identity theft.
Reuse
Many of the electronic waste is actually not ‘waste’ at all, as it’s still fully functional. Consider donating it to a local charity or thrift shop as there is someone out there who will be able to make use of it. This is especially important during this time where so many people have lost their jobs and need to start new opportunities for themselves. They all need to be connected, and your unwanted goods could change a life.
Recovery
Some of the precious metals used in the manufacturing process of electronics include silver, tin, gold, palladium, and copper. These metals can all be recovered and used again to make new products.
Did you know that for every 1million cell phones recycled, 35,000 pounds of copper, 700 pounds of silver, and 75 pounds of gold can be recovered.
Hard drives are shredded to extract aluminium ingots which are then used in the motor industry.
The more of these metals that can be collected through recycling and recovery, the less has to be extracted from the ground. The mining process used to extract these metals is very detrimental to our environment, so the recovery of these metals is vital.
Why Choose Us for e-waste disposal in Mechanicsburg?
We at Junk Removal Mechanicsburg PA are your locally licensed trash removal company, committed to looking after the health of our environment while we remove all types of trash. We will collect and dispose of your e-waste in a responsible manner. Our aim is to recycle as much of the waste we collect as possible, or if we have no option, to dispose of it in an environmentally friendly way. Consider us as your local trash removal company that cares about the environment we all live in as much as you do.
Contact us for a free, no obligation quote and indicate the pick-up times that will fit in with your schedule. We haul away junk after hours, or offer weekend pickups, and even a same day junk removal service if you need it. Let’s help you keep dangerous e-waste out of our landfills, thus ensuring the safety of our environment for generations to come.
Call us at the following number: 717 988 0997.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Email: enquiries@junkremovalmechanicsburg.com
www.junkremovalmechanicsburg.com