Why Recycle Electronics?
In today’s society, newer electronic equipment is being developed by the minute. But what happens with the old equipment? For the most part, electronics are thrown to the curb alongside regular garbage or stored in basements and garages for years. This older and obsolete equipment is quickly becoming part of the waste stream and most of the materials do not biodegrade.
More importantly, U.S. recyclers and watchdog groups like Basel Action Network estimate that 50 percent or more of the United States' used computers, cellphones and TVs sent to recyclers are shipped overseas for recycling to places like Taizhou, China or Lagos, Nigeria, as permitted by federal law. But much of this obsolete equipment ends up as toxic waste, with hazardous components exposed, burned, or allowed to degrade in landfills.