Technology is advancing at a lightening speed and the electronic product consumer market is growing with it. Consumers are changing their cell phones, computers and laptops often enough in favor of latest gadgets which are superior to the older models. Such trend can soon prove to be hazardous for our environment.
The computers, monitors and laptops that are discarded yet not recycled are called e-waste. The increasing amount of e-waste is increasing the total amount of landfill and causing soil and water pollution. There are several reasons for recycling e-waste. If you are still hesitant or in doubt, do read the following points to understand the importance of e-cycling.
Preventing the wastage of resources
Huge amount of resources were invested to make your computer, smart phone and household appliances. Discarding them is easy but producing them will soon not be easy anymore. If not recycled then the materials used for making electronic goods will be wasted. Recycling will help us in restoring the used materials in a condition to be used again.
This way we can prevent wastage of virgin natural resources and stop drawing continuously from natural sources. The US Geological Survey has found that just one metric ton of e-waste consists of more gold than 17 tons of pure gold ore can give us. Gold is just a part of the materials that you can get from e-waste.
Reducing landfills
The large scale consumption of electronics goods is not regulated by any national level organization. Recycling old electronics have not been mandatory yet. But if we do not take responsibility for this we will be losing more ground space to landfill. The electronic waste is huge in volume. It all goes to the landfills. This not only increases the risk of pollution but also blocks massive amount of natural resources.
To break this unhealthy cycle you will have to take the help of facilities where electronic wastes are recycled as per the highest industrial standards. While using electronics we all should also take responsibility for playing our part in recycling. Countries where there are still no organized plants for recycling e-waste should take initiative for setting up legal firms for this purpose.
Harmful and life threatening chemicals
The toxic and harmful chemicals from e-waste can further pollute the environment and endanger our lives. Computers, home appliances, mobile handsets and other gadgets contain harmful, toxic chemicals that can freely mix with the environment when they are discarded.
In batteries, there is cadmium which is poisonous, in laptops there is mercury and in televisions there is lead. When the electronic waste gets accumulated in landfills, the harmful substances can leak from them and get mixed with soil or water. Toxic fumes from e-waste can pollute the air. To prevent such pollution more attention should be given to recycling e-waste.
Production time gets reduced
The certified electronics recyclers are capable of restoring your old electronic products to usable conditions. This can reduce the time required for producing electronic gadgets. People who are less fortunate can get recycled gadgets for lower prices. This way more sections of the society will be able to use electronic products. EPA estimates show that one million old computers can produce toxic Green House gases which are equal to the yearly emission of seventeen thousand cars in quantity. Recycling can definitely take care of this problem and prevent the emission of Green House gases.
Recycling electronics is really necessary for keeping our environment clean. The huge amount of e-waste generated every year is filling up lands and polluting soil, air and water. If we all start recycling electronics, it will definitely help in reducing the percentage of electronic toxin emissions.
