By Jaroslav A. Polák [CC0 1.0], via Flickr
We Believe in Making the World a Better Place to Live
With a little change in perspective, Veracity World has been able to bring much-needed focus on the essential value of e-waste recycling and refurbishment. Where everybody sees electronic as waste, we see great potentials. Our innovative approach and effective process give the unused electric and electronic equipment with new life and new function. Our approach is mainly focused on saving the environment from landfills, pollution and hazardous chemicals from e-waste.
Computers and Electronic Assets Disposal
Teaching the awareness of environment about e-waste management is as important as teaching them about good moral values. We strongly advocate the e-waste management becomes as fundamental part of everyone’s life as everyone is using electronic equipment today.
Our support even extends to social organizations to spread the idea of e-waste and how it is affecting our health and the environment.
Electronic recycling or computer recycling is a process of recycling computers and other electronic devices. In the world of technology, the amount of e-waste is increasing as the useful lifespan of the devices, the products and services we are using are going shorter and shorter. Corporate demand for the next best thing is increasing, and the corporate answer their demands by updating and improving the devices, equipment’s easier than ever before.
The question then comes here is what would we do with so much of e-waste in this hand. And the only answer to this question is that recycle force where the organizations come forward and ensure that each and every item that they take is disposed of in a safe and in an environmentally conscious way.
Electronics tend to become useless once they stop working and we come across a situation where we might have a difficulty in getting rid of them. And the best way of disposing of the damaged or the old electronics is to recycle them appropriately. Electronic recycling might not be a popular technique now but would soon turn out to be a wise and viable option for many of you. Recycling of the electronic appliances and gadgets would give you an opportunity to become the most responsible person, helping you protect the environment in a much more better manner. When you recycle the electronic gadgets then you get hold of the additional income sources and opportunities that are important for employment.
Most parts of these electronic units are made out of some precious materials, and if you could reuse the same materials for some other electronic appliances then you would not just save your money but would also prevent some environmental degradation to a certain extent as well. It would be a smart move if you get your electronic items recycled as storing them in the storage area or warehouse would not be good and it would continue creating a clutter in your company. The storage space would again be used to store other important things rather than the storing old or the damaged electronics.
Once you have learned how to recycle the electronics then you would never do the mistake of throwing them anywhere and everywhere. And in this way, you would also be able to preserve the deteriorating health of the environment, improving your health as it is believed that harmful elements are never released during the recycling process.
Electronic Waste Disposal
Over the last decade, quality of life and owning electronics have become inextricably linked. As a result, the production and sale of electronic goods have skyrocketed worldwide. Due to rapid advances in technology, there is a much wider range of products available and new versions of existing goods are being launched constantly. Therefore, the rate at which electronics are being discarded (and sheer volume of waste) has increased drastically as well. This electronic waste, or e-waste, is being exported to developing countries where crude ‘recycling’ techniques expose both the workers and the environment to dangerous chemicals.
So, How Much E-Waste is Actually Out There?
In the United States, 3 million tons of e-waste (computers, printers, phones, cameras, televisions, refrigerators, etc.) is produced every year. Globally, e-waste generation is growing by 40 million tons per year (1). This is equivalent to filling around 15,000 football fields six feet deep with waste! As unimaginable huge as this figure already is, it is increasing at an alarming rate.
In 2020, it is estimated that in China (which is currently the largest dumping ground), e-waste from computers will have jumped by 200-400% and mobile phones will increase by 700%. In India, computer waste is predicted to rise by 500% and e-waste from mobile phones will be an astounding 18 times higher than current levels (yes, that is a 1800% jump) (1). While some state-of-the-art electronic recycling facilities do exist, the majority of this e-waste is being shipped (legally and illegally) to developing countries.
E-Waste in Developing Countries
Due to increased safety rules in Western countries, it is 10 times cheaper to export e-waste to developing countries than it is to locally recycle (3). Though some e-waste exportation is legal, a large portion is illegal. Electronics exported under the category of ‘used’ or ‘second-hand’ goods are not subject to any restrictions, and numerous other loopholes, export schemes, and corrupt officials have been discovered (4). In 2005, inspections of 18 European seaports found that approximately 47% of exported waste was illegal and that 23,000 metric tons of e-waste were illegally shipped from the United Kingdom (5).
Common e-waste destinations include China, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Nigeria, Ghana, and Brazil, just to name a few. China is by far the most popular dumping ground and receives an estimated 70% of the 20-50 million tons to global e-waste produced yearly (3). The e-waste industry employs 150,000 people in Guiyu, China, while the scrap yards in Delhi boast 25,000 workers and 20,000 tons of yearly waste (5). These countries create a ‘perfect storm’ for e-waste dumping: cheap and desperate labor with no added cost for health or safety regulations.
Human Health and Environmental Issues
It is an undeniable fact that e-waste in “backyard” recycling operations poses a major threat to both human health and the environment. Valuable metals such as gold and copper can be extracted from electronics, but this recovery process is often done in the cheapest and most unsafe way.
Plastics, which contain heavy metals and flame retardants, are burned in open piles and release deadly dioxin and furans.
Cathode ray tubes (CRTs) are broken with hammers to remove copper, a process that also releases toxic phosphor dust. Circuit boards are literally cooked over open flames or in shallow pans, exposing workers to lead fumes. Acid baths are used to extract gold from circuit board chips, spewing even more toxic gases into the air (6). These processes release a wide variety of heavy metals including lead, cadmium, and mercury into the air, soil, and water (5).
Despite the obviously toxic nature of the most common ‘recycling’ techniques, over 90% of e-waste landfills or dumps have no environmental standards (3). Unbelievably, Nigeria does not have a single legally licensed landfill despite having a population of 115 million and being a popular e-waste dumping ground (2). The environmental impacts of unregulated ‘recycling’ sites are evident in polluted groundwater, extremely unsafe levels of lead and mercury in nearby rivers, and toxic emissions that contribute to global warming.
Workers at e-waste sites are usually migrants from extremely poor areas and are often children. They have little to no access to gloves or face masks and are often too desperate for work or uninformed to care about the health risks. Workers at e-waste sites are prone to skin rashes, cancer, weakening of the immune system, and respiratory, nerve, kidney, and brain damage (3). In China’s Guiyu region, workers have extremely high levels of toxic fire retardants in their bodies and over 80% of the children already have lead poisoning.
What Can You do to Prevent E-Waste Dumping?
As with any illegal trade, it would be virtually impossible to stop all e-waste exportation and “backyard” recycling operations. However, you can take measures to ensure that your e-waste is being properly disposed of. Large consumer electronic stores such as Best Buy and Staples have in-store recycling programs. You can also find out specific information on nearby certified e-waste recycling programs on your state government’s website. A list of certified electronics recyclers can also be found through e-Stewards and R2 Solutions.
References:
- http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100222081911.htm
- http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/electronic-waste-developing-world
- http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/18/world/asia/18iht-waste.1.8374259.html?_r=0
- http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/science/earth/27waste.html?pagewanted=all
- http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/toxics/electronics/the-e-waste-problem/where-does-e-waste-end-up/
- http://www.electronicstakeback.com/wp-content/uploads/Q_and_A_on_Exporting_Issues
How Can Corporate Companies Recycle Their Old Electronics Devices?
Corporate companies have access to a number of recycling opportunities, depending upon where they live. Thinking in terms of the electronics recycling hierarchy, the best choice is to donate computer equipment that can be refurbished or reused. Provided that personal information is destroyed from devices. Other recycling opportunities include authorized electronics recycler locations, electronics recycling events or more.
Our Aim Is To:
- Understand your company needs and provide professional service
- Make the computer and electronics disposal and management process easy and simple
- Provide your organization with professional and high-quality service
We offer a holistic IT, Computer and Electronics disposal service to our clients, such as:
- Asset validation and audit
- Proper documented processed
- Secure data destruction from end-of-life computers
- Customized collection schedules
What Makes Veracity World Different than Others?
- Providing cost effective solution: We purchase disposable electronic good for higher prices compared to the usual market price
- Asset management: We provide a systematic process for disposal of surplus and redundant IT, Computer and Electronic assets
- Collection: We arrange free pick up for your disposal of IT, Computer and Electronic assets
- Secure data destruction: If data destruction is required we will charge based on a number of disposables and a full report would be presented upon request
With Veracity World, your legacy or retired equipment can still work for you. We can help you in obtaining capital back from unneeded or phased out equipment. Whether its relocation, obsolescence, change in operation or acquisitions, we can help liquidate your businesses equipment.
