There are thousands of electronic devices today that have made our lives easier and more convenient, even more enjoyable, but care must be taken when disposing of these items when they have outlived their usefulness. Many items like computers, laptops, printers, LCD and TVs, cell phones, and more contain hazardous materials such as lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, radioactive isotopes, dioxins, and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), and having them end up in landfills can create major environmental hazards.

Disposing of electronic waste today is no small problem. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that of the 2.25 million tons of TVs, cell phones, and computer products ready for end-of-life disposal in 2007, only 414,000 tons (18 percent) were collected for recycling. The remaining 1.84 million tons (82 percent) were tossed aside with other solid waste, primarily in landfills.

The problem will grow as more and more new electronic products are offered in the future and today’s electronic products become outdated or obsolete. The average lifespan of a desktop computer, for instance, is only three-to-five years (though some people may keep them longer), and consumers barely keep a cell phone for more than two years before exchanging it for a more exotic model with more features. The obsolete equipment then adds to the amount of e-waste (electronic waste) that can become part of the system.

Rather than putting e-waste out with the trash, however, we can recycle it, giving it new life. The EPA states that recycling benefits us three ways:

Consumers have several options when faced with recycling electronic equipment.

Donating electronics that are still in working condition is one. Such donations give schools, nonprofit organizations, and lower-income families access to equipment that otherwise would not be in their budget. The EPA lists organizations with information about donating electronic equipment on its website (www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/ecycling/donate.htm).

Many manufacturers also offer recycling services. In some cases, the take-back offer may be good in limited areas or apply only to certain electronic equipment. One manufacturer offers recycling programs for printer supplies and computer hardware along with LCD or Plasma TVs, but it does not accept other equipment such as VCRs, DVDs, or any monitors with broken glass.

West Palm Beach Recycle gives you another option. We will pick up your obsolete equipment whether it is in working order or not. WestPalmBeachRecycle.com also offers a one-of-a-kind mail-in service that allows you to mail smaller electronic items such as laptops, cell phones, ink cartridges, laptop Tablets, and digital cameras to us at our expense. More information is available on this website.

We will do whatever repairs are needed to refurbish the equipment or use it for spare parts to repair other equipment. The EPA notes that extending the life of old equipment by refurbishing it for reuse is vital to reducing the amount of electronic waste in the waste system and reducing the environmental impact of these products.

WestPalmBeachRecycling.com meets all three of the EPA goals listed above.

We use components extracted from some equipment to refurbish other items such as personal computers and laptops, and we offer a safe and responsible way for consumers to dispose of potentially toxic materials. Call us at 561-929-0838 or e-mail us at contact@westpalmbeachrecycle.comtoday for an appointment for us to pick up your obsolete electronic equipment. In many cases, pickup is free, or in outlying areas there may a nominal charge. Recycling areas include Belle Glade, Atlantis, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Breezes, Cloud Lake, Delray Beach, Glen Ridge, Gulf Stream, Golf, Lake Worth, Lantana, Manalapan, Mangonia Park, North Palm Beach, Ocean Ridge, Pahokee, Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Spring, Palm Beach Shores, Rivera Beach, Royal Palm Beach, South Bay, South Palm Beach, Tequesta, Wellington, West Palm Beach, For Computer Recycling in Palm Beach. For more information, see our services page.