What are the benefits of electronics recycling? Electronic recycling, also known as e-cycling, is an organized process of recycling products at the end of their lifetime. These include computers, TVs, fax machines, stereos, smartphones, etc. In today’s article, we will discuss the top ten benefits of electronics recycling. Read on!
Benefits of Electronics Recycling
Recycling is critical. It prevents pollution, saves energy, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, recycling lessens the need to harvest new raw materials, saves money, and decreases the amount of waste in landfills.
1. No Toxicity
According to KVS Computers, a reputable company, the primary benefit of electronics recycling is no chemical toxicity. Smartphones contain over 70 elements. About 62 elements in smartphones are metals. Although some metals are not toxic, most are harmful to the human body and the environment.
Research shows that computers and smartphones contain heavy metals. These include lead, zinc, and cadmium. Besides, electronic devices contain flame retardants. When you toss your electronic devices in the landfill, the metals in them can leach into the soil. As a result, these metals cause toxicity in the groundwater through high-level contamination.
Although modern electronic devices contain fewer metals, tossing them in the landfill still increases groundwater toxicity risk. Thus, it can cause health complications for humans and impact the overall ecosystem.
2. Retain Precious Metals
Retaining precious metals is one of the top benefits of electronics recycling. Let us give you an example. Will you ever throw a gold ring in the garbage bin? You won’t do it. Right? You will sell it or gift it to your sister, mother, or spouse.
The same principle applies to electronics, especially computers and smartphones. These devices contain precious metals. According to BBC, an iPhone has around 0.034g of gold, 0.34g silver, and other metals, including palladium and platinum.
Many computers contain a higher amount of aluminum and copper. Although these metals are less worthy than gold and silver, they require more energy for extraction from the earth. In addition, electronics also contain rare earth elements, which are pretty expensive to extract from the earth. Computers and smartphones have more than 17 rare earth elements. Premium products like iPhones contain less than eight rare earth metals.
That’s why it is crucial to recycle your old electronics. For instance, you can bring your old computer system to KVS Computers for repairs and refurbishment. That way, you can have an upgraded system with optimal performance. Thus, you play a crucial role in retaining precious metals.
3. Reduced Landfill Usage
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more than 262 million tons of garbage and trash end up in landfills in the United States. The report shows that 145 million tons of waste ended up in landfill sites between 1990 and 2015.
As you can see, the amount of waste in landfill sites has increased in recent years. A recent report shows that China won’t accept plastic imports for recycling. Consequently, most companies in the United States have canceled their recycling programs.
So, this has increased the amount of plastic waste in landfill sites, leading to complications for the government. Therefore, it is crucial to recycle old electronics to reduce the amount of waste in the landfill site.
Otherwise, landfills will reach their total capacity within 15 years in the U.S. Many people find it easy to throw their old electronics in the garbage bin. However, this can cause complications, including global warming, greenhouse gas emissions, and financial obligations for the government.
On the other hand, when you avoid tossing your old computer, printer, cell phone, monitor, etc., in the trash, you can deaccelerate the filling rate of waste in the landfill. According to Gartner, one billion people who keep their old computers or laptops instead of buying new products can make a massive difference. So, this is where KVS Computers play a crucial role.
4. Improved Health
What are the benefits of electronics recycling? A significant amount of electronics waste ends up in landfill sites. Likewise, some companies in the U.S ship a considerable amount of e-waste to other countries.
Bear in mind that this is against U.S law. Interpol reports that 35% of containers leaving developed countries for developing nations contain electronics waste. Most illegal companies handle or manage it inappropriately because developing nations do not have sophisticated electronics waste recycling policies.
The lack of environmentally friendly practices can risk people’s health. The illegal methods involve burning electronics waste to separate recyclables and precious metals. For instance, companies burn USB cables to remove the insulated copper wire. Then, they remove the insulation and keep the copper.
The good news is that most recycling centers in the U.S have implemented safer ways to remove copper from insulation. That way, companies can prevent the risk of toxic smoke that can cause respiratory conditions.
In addition, the smoke produced from burning copper-based USB cables contains harmful substances. One such toxic substance is dioxin that can cause severe health complications. These include chronic nausea, headaches, skin infections, lung diseases, and cancer.
Therefore, it is wise to reduce tossing old electronics in the garbage. If your computer or laptop is in working order but requires upgradation, you can bring it to KVS Computers. Our qualified, experienced, and skilled professionals will refurbish it. That way, you can use it safely and achieve high performance without buying a new product.
5. Increased Employment Opportunities
The U.S government and private organizations should be encouraged to launch new electronics recycling programs. Not only will this create a positive impact on the environment, but it will also create employment opportunities. EPA reports that recycling programs can generate an average of 1.5 jobs for 1,000 tons of recycled materials.
Some electronics recycling programs in the U.S create more opportunities for people. According to Forbes, a Startup Company in California created an employment program for people with criminal backgrounds. The program provides job opportunities to people.
So, people with criminal records can start a new life by earning a decent amount of income. The jobs are about recycling electronics waste. Moreover, KVS Computers help people save money by refurbishing their old computers and laptops. So, each recycling company benefits the economy in its own way.
6. Lowered Energy Consumption
Manufacturing companies spend a lot of money on producing electronic products. It requires a lot of energy to manufacture computers, laptops, and smartphones. The increased energy consumption can take a massive toll on resources. So, this affects the environment and causes financial problems for the government and businesses.
One of the top benefits of electronics recycling is lowered energy consumption. Recycling electronics can cut down on energy usage. Remember, recycling reduces the production of a large volume of new products.
That’s the reason KVS Computers is an eco-friendly company. We refurbish hundreds of computers every month to ensure people use their old devices with upgraded features. EPA reports that recycling one million computers or laptops is equivalent to reducing the electricity consumption of 3,500 homes in the U.S.
When you recycle a computer or laptop, it protects precious metals. It means you can use a refurbished computer. That way, you play your role in reducing the need for more energy and time mining metals from the earth.
EPA states that recycling one million electronic products, such as computers and smartphones, recover precious metals. These include 35,000 pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold, and 33 pounds of palladium.
7. Financial Savings
Electronic devices are expensive. When you want to buy a new computer, you will have to spend more money. However, when you refurbish your old computer, you can save money by not buying the new one. Refurbished computers are much more affordable than purchasing new products.
Even if you don’t want to use your old computer, you can donate it to KVS Computers. The purpose is to contribute to the environment. KVS Computers recommends repairing or refurbishing your old computer or laptop. That way, you can save money and use the refurbished system to achieve the same level of performance.
For example, KVS Computers can upgrade RAM, install SSD, and perform other crucial tasks. The purpose is to ensure you achieve your goals without spending more money. If your computer is in working condition, you don’t need to buy a new one. You can simply make these upgrades to achieve optimal performance.
For instance, you can play high-graphics video games when you install a new graphics card and upgrade your hard drive. So, you don’t need to buy a gaming laptop that can cost hundreds of dollars. So, saving money is one of the most significant benefits of electronics recycling.
8. Reduced Pollution Levels
Environmental pollution is one of the most significant issues the world experiences in the 21st century. According to KVS Computers, global warming and climate change are real challenges for governments across the world. Pollution causes irreparable damage to the ecosystem and human communities. It leads to 40% of deaths worldwide due to soil and water contamination.
The good news is that reduced pollution levels are the top benefits of electronics recycling. E-cycling can reduce air pollution from toxic gases. KVS Computers play a crucial role in ensuring poisonous gases do not contaminate the air.
How do we do our part? We offer repair and refurbishment services. Our professional team refurbishes your computer or laptop based on your requirements. That way, we prevent you from tossing or throwing your computer system in the trash.
So, this is how we play our role in reducing environmental pollution levels. Remember, electronic devices ending up in the landfill contribute to rising temperatures. Inappropriate handling of electronics can release toxic gases into the air and damage the ecosystem.
Moreover, mining activities usually involve blasting on rocks. As a result, the process releases toxic gases. These include dust, sulfur, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. For example, one ton of gold and platinum mining can produce 10,000 tons of Co2 in the environment.
That’s why it is wise to focus more on electronic recycling. It can cut a considerable amount of dangerous gas emissions. As a result, society can prevent the air from getting polluted. Remember, this is for the betterment of our future generations.
9. Streamlined Electronics Recycling
Recycling is not an easy task. It requires careful planning and preparation. Everyone has to play a role and contribute toward appropriate e-cycling. KVS Computers has implemented state-of-the-art ways and uses cutting-edge technologies to perform e-cycling.
Therefore, if you want to get rid of your old computer, you can donate it to KVS Computers. We will refurbish the computer system and sell it. That way, we contribute toward electronics recycling and play our role in boosting the American economy.
10. Improved Brand Reputation for Businesses
Companies invest in electronics devices, such as computers, laptops, servers, etc., to streamline their business operations. Because technology changes from time to time, companies buy new systems and dump the old ones. However, this is harmful to the environment. We have already explained the consequences above.
If you want to improve your brand reputation and focus on eco-friendliness, you must invest in e-cycling. Make sure you carry out eco-friendly practices in your company. KVS Computers can help upgrade your company’s computer systems efficiently and reliably. That way, you can save a significant amount of money by not purchasing new equipment.
At the same time, you achieve your business goals without spending more money. Thus, this is one of the top benefits of electronics recycling. Likewise, you make a positive impact on the environment. These are green credentials of your business that builds and improve your brand reputation.
Benefits of Electronics Recycling – Final Words
There are dozens of benefits of electronics recycling. We have highlighted the top ten advantages of e-cycling. KVS Computers aims to spread awareness of eco-friendly practices among the American communities. We offer quality computer repair, refurbishing and certified electronics recycling services. Contact us today!