3 Ways to Responsibly Recycle E-Waste

Technology is an important part of our lives and has permeated nearly every part of it. From the way we wake up in the morning with our alarm radios to the way we’re attached to our smartphones, to the games we play and the way we read our newspapers on our e-Readers, technology has permeated our lives. But what happens when we have to part with our technology? After all, whether a device has lived out its life or we choose to upgrade, our things don’t last forever. Here are three ways to responsibly recycle your e-waste through electronics recycling in San Diego.

Repurpose Your Electronics

Did you know that approximately 25% of all electronics that are thrown in the trash are perfectly useable items? That is absolutely the case since most of these items are thrown away because of an upgrade. Before you throw your outdated item away, consider whether it may be donated instead. There are many people who cannot afford to upgrade their electronic items, or a nonprofit that would really appreciate being able to purchase gently used electronics. Why not take the extra step of donating instead of tossing? After all, 25% less waste in a landfill is a powerful number. In some cases, you may even be able to claim a tax write off.

Demanufacture The Product

In some cases, it may be best to dispose of the product through an appropriate site that can then in turn “demanufacture” the product. What does this mean? It means that the product is broken down into reusable parts. The metals that can be reused, such as the gold and silver, the aluminum or copper, can be repurposed into other electronics and will not need to be mined out of the ground again at great cost to our fossil fuels. This is an excellent way to protect the environment from dangerous chemicals and keep waste out of a landfill.

Take Special Precautions With Cell Phones

Make sure your cell service is disconnected and you remove the SIM card from the phone and cut it in half. Clear your phone’s memory and manually delete all the information. Cell phone batteries must be recycled separately from the cell phone itself, but both contain toxic chemicals and metals. Fortunately, both are one of the easiest items to recycle on the market today. Many places will then determine whether to refurbish the phone or recycle it.

San Diego Electronic Recycling

By choosing to e-recycle e-waste, San Diego,electronic recycling can once again take off and reduce our carbon footprint in our community.