The world produces about 300 million tons of garbage annually, and less than one-quarter of that is recycled. That means that electronics and their associated e-waste end up in landfills regularly, which impacts people’s quality of life. Here are some reasons to get out of this habit by recycling your electronics.
1. E-Waste Is Toxic
While e-waste is a tiny portion of what ends up in landfills, it is almost three-quarters of all toxic waste. Your electronic devices contain many dangerous materials, including plastics and heavy metals. So the next time you see an ecoATM and think, “what is ecoATM?” know that it is a place to recycle your devices and reduce the amount of toxic waste you generate.
2. E-Waste Includes Valuable Materials
Gold and silver are highly conductive materials often used in the electronics you throw away. Every year, Americans dump millions of dollars worth of precious metals, which could have been repurposed had they used electronics recycling.
3. Recycling Saves Energy
Recycling a million computers saves enough energy to power 3,500 American homes. A simple search for “ecoATMs near me” can help you do your part in keeping e-waste out of landfills and decreasing global energy consumption.
4. Producing Electronics Requires a Lot of Resources
Producing one computer and monitor requires more than 500 pounds of fossil fuels, almost 50 pounds of chemicals and 3,000 pounds of water. That means that creating electronics requires a lot of natural resources. Recycling old electronics allows their materials to be reused, reducing the new devices’ carbon footprints and making production more efficient.
5. E-Waste Recycling Is a Potentially Profitable Industry
Because of the amount of garbage produced and restrictions in place, most e-waste is shipped to countries with fewer restrictions. China, Kenya and India receive large amounts of e-waste from the United States. More than three-quarters of e-waste is sent to Asia. This is a market that could bring prosperity to new American businesses.
These are just some reasons recycling your electronics is better for your health and the environment. So make it your mission to eliminate your e-waste production.
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