Importance of recycling electronic products
E-waste management has become a pressing concern of modern times. Companies around the world dispose of a large amount of electronic products every year. We as individuals contribute to that e-waste pile by throwing out everything that is broken or old. It is the duty of companies and specialized recycling companies to handle those materials. Being certified for electronic waste management is a necessary achievement for any company.
The first reason anyone should recycle their old electronics is pretty obvious: resources. Modern devices contain all kinds of materials that need to be recycled. Note that those resources do not regenerate. Also, some devices contain a small amount of precious materials, such as gold. If you add up all the scrapped gadgets, you end up with a huge amount of gold. And there are many other rare and expensive items that could easily be recycled and reused in industrial processes.
Environmental safety is another big concern. Electronic devices are full of toxic substances that would poison the soil, air, and groundwater table if they came into contact. There are many organizations that advocate for environmental safety. Failing to properly dispose of e-waste is punishable by law and all companies should know that their disposal activities are closely monitored by authorities and organizations.
Toxic waste will also affect nearby people. The release of toxic substances into the air can cause all kinds of lung diseases or other respiratory problems. And when the authorities start looking for those responsible, the consequences for the company causing the contamination will be quite serious. In some cases, the authorities will shut down all production and activity.
Data security is also ensured by proper destruction and management of electronic waste. We live in a world where cyber attacks, cyber terrorism, and industrial espionage are at their peak. There are plenty of bad guys out there who would like to get hold of some of your company’s old hard drives or infiltrate your company’s database through old and insufficiently secure devices. This is why when a company decides to renew its electronic equipment, it must properly destroy the old one.
E-waste recycling is the best solution, but only if it is done by certified companies. The E-Steward represents the global partnership program for companies that responsibly recycle e-waste. Certified members have dedicated facilities where they extract precious components and destroy the remaining materials, which, in turn, will be recycled and re-entered into the production cycle.
