Around the world, e-waste is More than 5% It accounts for 10% of municipal solid waste. Commonly referred to as “e-waste,” these discarded electronic products often end up in landfills, but that shouldn’t happen. Some of these products can be repaired or reused if they still work. If they’re broken beyond repair, e-waste should be recycled to recover reusable materials.
Mobile phones, computers, televisions, DVD players, stereos and printers are the most common electronic products that can be refurbished or recycled. Others include microwaves, refrigerators, air conditioners, lamps, toys, video game consoles and power tools.
Recycling e-waste recovers useful materials, including valuable metals like gold and copper, that manufacturers can use to create new products. This reduces the energy needed to mine, refine, and manufacture new materials, and reduces pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), state Recycling one million cell phones would recover approximately 35,000 pounds of copper, 33 pounds of palladium, 772 pounds of silver, and 75 pounds of gold. Astonishingly, the United States loses $10 billion a year by dumping valuable e-waste in landfills. According to the Boston Consulting Group.
moreover, Predictions for 2024 According to a study by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, only 22.3% of e-waste is recycled internationally. In the United States, e-waste recycling rates range on average from 14% to 40%. According to published research NatureHowever, most e-waste is still dumped in landfills or incinerated, wasting useful resources and harming the environment by releasing toxic chemicals such as lead, mercury, cadmium and other pollutants into the soil, groundwater and air.
So what exactly happens to e-waste when it is recycled?
E-waste export
Record high in 2022 62 million tons of e-waste It is produced worldwide and the amount is expected to increase to 62 million tonnes in the next decade. United Nations Report The United States generates about 11.6% of the world’s e-waste (7,188 tons), but collects only 56% of its end-of-life e-waste. Much of the e-waste that is recycled is first shipped overseas to separate usable components and extract metals that can be reused in new products.
For U.S. and European recyclers, it is often cheaper to outsource the labor needed to break down and melt e-waste to countries like: China or IndiaAs a result, currently, approximately 50% to 80% of the e-waste collected by recyclers is “exported.” The United Nations reported that China is the largest destination for exported e-waste, with an estimated 70% of the world’s e-waste ending up in China.
The dangers of electronics recycling
Working with hazardous and toxic materials can pose significant health risks to workers involved in e-waste processing. Specifically, processes such as dismantling, chemical processing, and incineration can all result in direct exposure or inhalation of hazardous materials. One common such hazard is exposure to lead and other toxic metals. Another example of a hazardous material encountered in electronics recycling is mercury, which can be a dangerous neurotoxin.
When facilities do not have proper safety protocols, there is always a risk that workers and nearby communities will be exposed to hazardous substances. For example, burning wires and cables can increase concentrations of dioxins, toxins known to increase the risk of cancer when inhaled by workers and nearby residents. Similarly, dioxins can contribute to general air pollution.
In some developing countries, economic opportunities for people in these jobs are very limited, so the recycling industry is a welcome source of employment, despite the health risks.
How to dispose of electronic waste
E-waste recycling is primarily the process of separating plastics from metals and internal circuitry. Because e-waste must be processed in a way that separates goods that can be used to manufacture new products, the efficiency of this separation of materials is the basis for economically viable electronics recycling. As a result, the usual first step in e-waste processing is to mechanically shred the products into smaller pieces.
Although the specific recycling process varies depending on the materials being recycled and the technology used, there are some common steps: For example, at recycling facilities, workers separate iron and steel from waste on conveyor belts, then powerful overhead magnets lift the iron and steel, preparing it for resale as recycled steel.
Further mechanical processing separates the aluminum, copper and circuit boards. This leaves the majority of the material stream as plastic. Water separation techniques are often then used to separate the glass and plastic. The final stage finds and extracts any remaining metals in the plastic and further filters the material stream. The separated material is then ready to be sold as raw material that can be used to manufacture new electronics and other products.
The economics of electronic waste recycling
IBIS World Estimation Revenues generated by the electronics recycling industry in the United States are expected to reach approximately $27 billion in 2024. Although the volume of e-waste is growing rapidly, the quality of the e-waste may be declining. Devices are becoming smaller and smaller, which is why they use fewer precious metals. As a result, the value of materials in many electrical devices has decreased significantly. Falling global prices for recycled goods have reduced profit margins, hurting electronics recyclers. Another obstacle is that many new products are manufactured in ways that make them more difficult to recycle, repair, or reuse.
At this time, 25 US states have laws There are e-waste recycling mandates across states. State e-waste recycling laws affect approximately 65% of Americans. Not to mention, some states completely ban dumping e-waste in landfills, which is the primary alternative to e-waste recycling.
Find out which organizations in your area help recycle electronic waste. Search for battery collection locations on Call2Recycle Find options near you.
About the Author
Wesley Politz: Big Sky RecyclingBig Sky Recycling is committed to harnessing the power of mobile phones and electronic devices to reduce e-waste and use profits as a means to a greater cause – to make a positive impact on our employees, our community and the environment. Big Sky Recycling Mobile Phone Recycling Program It’s a simple, safe and free way to donate your phone to charity.
This article was originally published on July 13, 2020 and updated with current data in August 2024.
