Recycling Used IT Equipment—Why? How should we deal with used IT equipment? From a simple cellphone to a network server, we all know how much electronics have intertwined in our daily lives. From the time that alarm goes off in the morning until you set it at night, you can imagine the hundreds of electronic devices you have interacted with during your day. Eventually, those electronics get old or updated and need to be replaced. So where does all that old stuff go?

Used IT Equipment – Too Much Ends Up in Landfills

Globally, over 50 million metric tons of e-waste is generated annually, projected to reach 75 million by 2030. Often discarded in landfills, e-waste poses environmental hazards due to toxic materials like lead and mercury, which can contaminate soil and water, leading to serious health issues. E-waste accounts for 70% of toxic waste production, prompting the establishment of ITAD (Information Technology Asset Disposition) guidelines for best practices in e-waste management.

Recycling Used IT Equipment – To Help Keep Our Planet Green

Recycling E-waste also helps conserve natural resources. Many electronic devices contain valuable materials such as gold, silver, and copper, which are extracted from the earth and used in manufacturing. Recycling these materials can reduce the demand for new mining and extraction, which can help preserve these resources for future generations.

The Economics of Recycling Used IT Equipment

Yet an economic impact can also be achieved by recycling used networking equipment. In addition to the environmental and resource conservation benefits, recycling e-waste can also help create jobs and stimulate the economy. The EPA has resources to help determine the benefits of recycling used IT equipment:

• Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)

  The Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) is a procurement tool created to help institutional purchasers in the public and private sectors evaluate, compare, and select desktop computers, notebooks, and monitors based on their environmental attributes. EPEAT also provides clear and consistent performance criteria for product design and an opportunity for manufacturers to secure market recognition for efforts to reduce their products’ environmental impact.

• Electronics Environmental Benefits Calculator

  The downloadable Electronics Environmental Benefits Calculator (EEBC) (last bullet titled “Benefits Calculator”) estimates the environmental benefits of improving the purchasing, use, and disposal of computer products, specifically computer desktops, liquid crystal display (LCD), cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors, and computer notebooks/laptops. The EEBC also calculates the benefits of mobile phone reuse, recycling, and recycling mixed loads of electronic equipment. Find out more information about using the EEBC.

Many companies, such as TeleTraders and organizations, specialize in recycling e-waste, and these businesses provide employment opportunities for workers who may not have access to other forms of employment. By supporting these businesses, we can help create jobs and contribute to the local economy. Yet, not all IT recycling companies are created equal or take responsible recycling seriously. The best way is to use an R2-certified recycling company, which means they meet specific standards for safely recycling and managing electronics recycling. The R2 certification is fast becoming an industry standard for E-waste handling. Today, SERI is best known as the housing body for the R2 Standard and works with a coalition of multi-stakeholder partners to raise awareness of electronics repair and recycling issues worldwide. Work is being done to make it an international standard. If you would like to learn more about the R2 standardization efforts, you can follow this link.Shorten with AI Recycling E-waste is crucial for protecting the environment and conserving natural resources. By recycling your used IT equipment, you can help positively impact the world around you.