Top Facts About Recycling Electronics

Technology advances at a baffling rate, which can make consumers feel as if they never really have the latest and best-performing phone, laptop, or tablet computer. When the time does come to upgrade, you may not know what to do with your old electronics.

Recycling is a recent option, but even then, there is a right way to go about reusing and re-purposing unwanted electronics to make the most of the recycling process.

Reason to Consider Recycling

So, why should you go through the trouble of bothering the recycle your old phone, laptop, or tablet? One reason is that by merely throwing away obsolete and unwanted products, you inadvertently contribute to the planet’s waste problem.

Thrown-out electronics end up in landfills or furnaces or become illegally exported. By opting to recycle an electronic device, you help reduce unnecessary waste and protect the planet.

Where to Recycle Electronics

In regards to where to send your old laptop or cell phone when you no longer want it, you can look into a reputable ecoATM company. These companies provide kiosks where you can recycle electronics, but you get cash for doing so.

While you can see if anyone wants your products by listing them online yourself, letting an electronics recycler handle the job for you could save you a lot of time and hassle.

Recycling Exporting

One reason to check an ecoATM provider’s reputation is that you want to know how the company handles recycling once you drop something off. For instance, be sure the organization won’t irresponsibly export the device to a country that does not have the infrastructure necessary to properly recycle electronics.

Such countries may hire people to mine exported products for useful parts worth money, a job that can put the person’s health at risk when she or he is exposed to toxic components.

Recycling Sooner is Better Than Later

Just like cars lose their value over time, the same is true of electronic products, especially considering how quickly newer and better models roll out. That’s why you do not want to wait around before deciding whether you want to keep an old computer, tablet, or cell phone. Also, by getting rid of items ASAP, you do not have to worry about them taking up precious space in your home.

Check to See That You Wipe Your Devices

Before you head off to a recycling kiosk, check and double-check to be sure you wipe everything off your device. You do now want sensitive information winding up in someone else’s hands, which can lead to no end of problems for you. Merely deleting files and personal information is not enough, you have to fully wipe the device to make it so that someone cannot mine the data later.

If you are not sure of how to go about wiping your product, do some online research to see if there are guides you can use. Depending on the recycling company you choose, a technician could take care of wiping your data for you, but this option may come at an additional cost.

Paying Extra for Certain Electronics

Depending on the age and the type of device you want to recycle, it could contain cathode ray tubes. Something to bear in mind with CRTs is that they are more difficult to safely recycle, which is why you may have to pay more for the service. CRTs are often found in home appliances, old TVs, printers, and cartridges.

Recycling Batteries

Old batteries you use to power remote controls, smoke detectors, and other devices should not be thrown away. Even old car batteries should not be dumped into the trash. Nickel-cadmium batteries are toxic to the environment, so it’s better that you recycle them. Do a quick online search to see where you can recycle old batteries in your neighborhood.

Do your part in saving the environment and cutting down on waste by recycling electronics.

Wonder why you aren’t supposed to throw away batteries? Find out the reason in the video below.