E-Waste

Electronic waste (e-waste) consists of obsolete or broken electronics and electrical appliances.  E-waste is one of the fastest growing categories of waste, and it contains a variety of toxic substances, which may include lead, mercury and cadmium. When e-waste is disposed into landfills, these toxins can be released into the atmosphere or seep in through the land and have negative health and environmental effects. Despite a requirement from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) that states regulate the handling of and prohibit the disposal of the toxic materials contained in most electronic devices, millions of tons of e-waste is still disposed of annually.

According to the U.S. EPA, approximately 70% of the toxic heavy metals found in landfills come from electronic waste.  E-waste is recyclable and, when properly managed, can be a source of valuable precious metals, such as copper, gold and zinc.

Benefits of Recycling E-Waste

Increasing the recycling rate of all electronic devices is not only imperative for protecting public health, but also for conserving natural resources. The challenge for the United States and for the planet is educating consumers, developing a convenient infrastructure that recycles e-waste responsibly, and covering the costs. According to a 2008 U.S. EPA E-Waste Report, less than 20% of consumer electronics are currently recycled.

Recycling e-waste responsibly has many economic and environmental benefits:

• Allows for recovery of valuable precious metals.  Most consumer electronics contain valuable materials like copper, gold and zinc that can and should be recycled. Printed Wiring Boards (PWB) contain the highest value metals as well as some of the most toxic metals found in electronics scrap. There are 10 to 100 times more precious metals in PWBs than in an equal weight of ore taken from a mine. The majority of electronic devices are currently being recovered for precious metals and copper.
• Protects public health and water quality.  E-waste contains a variety of toxic substances, which may include lead, mercury and cadmium. When e-waste is disposed into landfills, these toxins can be released into the atmosphere or seep in through the land and have negative health and environmental effects.
• Creates Jobs.  Recycling e-waste domestically creates jobs for professional recyclers and refurbishers and creates new markets for the valuable components that are dismantled.
• Saves landfill space.  E-waste is a growing waste stream - the U.S. EPA estimates that 2.6 million tons of e-waste were landfilled in 2008. Recycling these items will help conserve landfill space.

For a summary of e-waste laws in the United States, click here.

For the nearest e-waste recycling location near you, click here.

Learn more about e-waste recycling in your state and what you can do to improve it.