Getting rid of items that you don’t need has become easier than ever. With many institutions and firms included for the same cause of keeping the environment safer, you can learn where you can dispose of your waste within a minute.
However, all waste is not the same. Some of the things can be degraded easily, and some require special methods for their destruction. In addition, before we think about how can one item be destroyed, we should focus on reusing the components and creating something new and better.
When it comes to recycling your electronic devices, there are plenty of things that you should know first, and that is why we have made this article. You will have the chance to be informed about certain things, and you will be able to notice how important it is to have all of your unwanted electronics brought to the right place.
Contents
- Which items count as electronic waste
- What happens with these items if you don’t recycle them
- Where should you bring your unwanted electronics
- You might get in trouble for dumping the items
- Consider gifting items that you don’t use
- Make sure to delete everything from the devices first
- There can be many things created with the recycled electronics
- Have in mind that you might have to pay something
Which items count as electronic waste
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Before you begin with getting rid of certain items, you have to understand which items belong under this category. We can start from the most used item and that is the phone. Everyone is using one, and we tend to replace them often looking for better and improved versions. That would be okay if we did something with our previous device, instead of placing it somewhere and forgetting about it.
Next are the computers. Although they last longer, we still tend to be looking for better ones after a couple of years. The other electronic devices in our homes also fall under this category, basically, everything that has a motherboard or runs on batteries or electricity.
What happens with these items if you don’t recycle them
If you don’t do the effort and bring the items to the correct place, they can end up in a land where they can cause hazardous situations. Because of the toxic particles, the earth will be polluted, and even if they clean the place after some time, you will not be able to grow something there. In case there is water close to the land where people dump these items, it can cause a disaster where all the aquatic life can be compromised.
If there are items that still work, they can be transported to poorer countries where the people will buy them second-handed and they will ruin their environment as well. The whole point is to reuse or completely destroy the waste, not just move it out of your place.
Where should you bring your unwanted electronics
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If you are not well informed whether you have an institution that works with this, you can ask in the ministry. However, there are firms in every city that work with recycling electronics as suggested by erecycler.com. Even if they are not doing the recycling process there, they are transporting the items to a bigger center. Before you drop your devices there, make sure that they have all of the licenses and diplomas required for this job.
In case you are moving out, or you are renewing all of your electronics, you can arrange for the firm to come and pick all of the items from your place.
You might get in trouble for dumping the items
Some countries have a policy that you should not throw these devices wherever you want. That means that you cannot just place them next to the container and hope that someone takes them away. If someone reports that, you will have to pay a penalty that can be costly.
You don’t need to inform yourself whether your country has this rule. Just bring the devices to the proper place and you have nothing to worry about.
Consider gifting items that you don’t use
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If you happen to have any devices that still work, but you don’t want them anymore. Whether because you are replacing them with new ones or you don’t need them anymore. You should consider gifting them to someone that needs them, whether that is someone close to you, or an unfortunate person.
If the devices work they can still be used, and you will not have to worry about disposing of them. If you don’t know a person that needs them, there are various groups on the internet where you can state that you have something that you don’t need. That way, someone who can use these items can come to your place and take them away.
Make sure to delete everything from the devices first
If we are talking about personal electronics like your phone or computer, make sure that you review whether you have anything saved on them first. If you have anything important, you can transfer it to the device that you are using at the moment.
After transferring everything important, you should delete everything. Instead of wasting time and doing that one by one, you can just systematically delete all the data at once. That way the device can be safely gifted or given to be recycled.
There can be many things created with the recycled electronics
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In case you were wondering what can be done with the devices that you drop off in the center, almost everything can be used. We can start from the shells of the devices, whether they are made from plastic or metal, everything can find its place.
In addition, the batteries are separated, and there is a different process when it comes to their degradation. The boards have materials that can be used in the future. Whether those are golden particles or other worthy metals, everything can be reused for future manufacturing. Starting from new electronics to other items, the materials will find their way into a new product.
Have in mind that you might have to pay something
Lastly, before you reach out to the center that works with recycling, keep in mind that you might have to pay something small for this service. The process is complicated, and it costs a lot to perform the recycling so paying something should not be a problem. Sometimes, there are actions where you can bring everything there without paying a fee, so you should think about doing it then.
