Where Will Electronic Recycling Be 1 Year From Now?
The explosive growth in the electronics industry has taken the world by a storm leading to a growing issue of end-of-life electronics. Toxic materials from these electronic devices like lead, cadmium, mercury are released into landfills which in turn pollute the environment and threaten the spread of harmful diseases to human and animal life. If these items are misused, chances are they can cause organ damage, neurological damage, and severe illness not only in the workers that handle them directly but also the people living in these communities. Recent reports in January 2019 by the World Economic Forum (WEF) states that e-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world, with an estimated waste stream of 48.5 million tonnes in 2018. Considering this, there is an immediate need to educate people about responsible electronics recycling programs which can ensure disposal or reuse of electronics in an environmentally friendly manner.
About 50,000 dump trucks worth of electronics are sent by Americans to the recyclers each year. Not just that, you would be surprised to know that the U.S. produces more e-waste than any country in the world. Harmful and toxic materials such as lead and mercury can harm the people and the environment. At Surplus Service, we are on a mission to make the planet a sustainable place to live for the current generation as well as preserve the natural resources for the future generation. Our team is dedicated to environmentally safe and responsible ways of dismantling and recycling of e-waste.
Old electronics will always remain resourceful in terms of valuable metals like gold and copper. If more organizations, companies, and individuals practice the safe disposal of electronic recycling, the next generation of smartphones can be made from their predecessors. This can, in turn, lead to the decreased need for mining precious metals and rather focus on conserving finite resources. Currently, the Japanese model of recycling is inspiring the rest of the world with its significant national recycling efforts. With its sophisticated recycling technology in place, Japan ensures that e-waste is done right. About 100 major electronic waste facilities are available in Japan, including small, local and operating facilities. The Law for the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources was passed in 2001, which requires manufacturers to recycle goods and reduce the generation of waste.
By 2020, the number of connected devices is projected to grow to 31 billion. Recycling companies and environmental scientists are working on developing innovative technologies and solutions through which e-waste can be reused, reduced or disposed of safely. Did you know that scientists have developed carbon nanotube technology to filter out extremely low concentrations of rare earth elements? Extraction costs for mining will decrease as soon as these technologies become more widespread.
Surplus Service is more than an electronic recycling company. We not only specialize in a variety of e-waste and surplus services, including ITAD, medical recycling, electronic liquidation but also reverse logistics and data eradication. Not just that, our team takes great effort to show personnel effective and efficient ways of reducing their carbon footprint with upcycling. Let’s take a pledge to educate people around us about responsible electronics recycling. Connect with us to know more.
