Your discarded electronic gadgets still have value

Electrical and electronic waste items, or e-waste, is a growing problem that is causing much damage to our environment because so much of it is not disposed of correctly. Additionally, discarded electronic items also contain harmful materials that can have a negative impact on the health if people who come into close contact with them, either working at landfill sites where the items end up or when they attempt to extract valuable components without the proper tools. Examples of the harmful materials contained within electronic gadgets and devices are mercury, lead, barium and cadmium from the batteries they contain.

So it is important to recycle e-waste via a reputable company, one that will adhere to the current laws governing the correct disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), which in the UK and Europe means the EU WEEE Regulations. But there are also other benefits to be gained from disposing of electronic waste the right way, such as:

• Minimising environmental impact – One of the main reasons why WEEE should be recycled in accordance with the relevant laws is to reduce the environmental hazards that can occur by dumping electronic goods in an uncontrolled way into landfill sites here and overseas. So much of e-waste is harmful to the environment and will not biodegrade. So, when e-waste ends up in landfill sites the soil and water supplies surrounding the site can be polluted as a result of hazardous chemicals and heavy metals leaching into the surroundings.
• Create economic growth – The good news is that the recycling industry is currently booming so new jobs are being created within the industry all the time which contribute to economic growth in local communities. This is in contrast to dumping electronic waste in landfill sites, which create few jobs and those that are created are undesirable because of the health hazards associated with them.
• Supporting local communities – Rather than dumping old PCs, laptops, tablets or mobile phones why not donate them to a worthy cause or charity? Many discarded gadgets and devices still have plenty of life in them and are only being replaced with a newer model so why not give someone else the opportunity to use the device while helping the environment at the same time.

It is clear that there are many advantages to recycling and reusing electrical and electronic items, which may have come to the end of their useful life for us but are, in fact, still perfectly usable.

The author has written and published articles on a wide range of topics including Small Business Advice, Tax and Accounting, Interior Design, House Renovation and Project Management.