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 till you set it at night you can imagine the hundreds of electronic devices you have interacted with during your day. And 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

Well it is estimated that last year we generated globally over 50 million metric tons of E-waste. That rate of E-waste generation is forecasted to hit 75 million metric tons by 2030.For many years E-waste just went into landfills and dumps like most of the rest of the trash that was generated each year. Yet our E-waste can be a bit more dangerous for our environment. It often contains materials like  lead, cadmium, and mercury which can leach into the soil and water if not handled properly. These substances can contaminate the environment and cause serious health problems for both humans and animals.. That E-waste accounts for 70% of toxic waste production. This has become such an important issue to our global health that an industry practice has been formed called ITAD, which stands for Information Technology Asset Disposition. It is a set of guidelines that show best practices for dealing with E-Waste. Learn a bit more about them here.

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 the manufacturing process. By recycling these materials, we 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 there is also an economic impact that can 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 a clear and consistent performance criteria for product design and provides an opportunity for manufacturers to secure market recognition for efforts to reduce the environmental impact of their products.

• 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) and cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors and computer notebooks/laptops. The EEBC also calculates the benefits of mobile phone reuse and recycling, and of 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 a recycling company that is R2 certified which means that that they meet specific standards to safely recycle and manage 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 around the world. 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. Recycling E-waste is crucial for protecting the environment and conserving natural resources. By taking the time to recycle your used IT equipment, you can help make a positive impact on the world around us.