How To Recycle Small Electronics
Best Trash Pickup Services In Houston
If your device has a power switch and is powered by a battery, it’s considered a small electronic. Small electronics include cell phones, tablet computers, MP3 players and digital cameras. Small electronics are not only easy to recycle, but they are sometimes the most valuable products you can recycle.
Small Electronics Recycling Preparation
If it’s possible to factory reset your electronics, this should be your first step in recycling. Delete any pictures or songs from your devices.
For electronics using a lithium-ion battery, remove the battery if possible. These batteries require a special transportation procedure, and can be recycled with other rechargeable batteries.
Look for a mail-in program that will pay for small electronics. You can also find charities that will accept your small electronics to raise money.
If you work in an office, ask your company’s IT department to schedule an electronics recycling event once a year. You’d be amazed at how many offices have lots of computers to recycle, and an electronic waste recycler that comes to pick up office waste will also collect consumer products like tablets at no cost.
Find organizations near you that accept small electronics using our Recycling Locator.
Why Recycle Small Electronics
EPEAT estimates 40 percent of the heavy metals in landfills comes from electronics.
Even though the amount of gold in small electronics has been cut significantly in the past 15 years, you can get 1 gram of gold (the amount produced by mining a ton of ore) from just 41 cell phones.
Still-working electronics can be refurbished and resold, with 100 percent of the materials given a second life.
What types of recyclable material do small electronics contain?
We may not think of small electronics as tiny computers, but they have all the same internal components. Motherboards include valuable metals like copper and gold. If your small electronic device runs on a battery, the battery is made of either lithium or nickel and cadmium.
How are small electronics recycled?
The first step for an electronics recycler is to test products to see if they can be repaired or refurbished. When they find non-working devices, recyclers will remove the battery and recycle it along with other batteries. The remaining material may be shredded or dismantled manually to harvest parts or components for reuse. When electronics are shredded, plastic, glass and metal are separated and sent to manufacturers for use in new products.
Source: Earth911
Saving on Waste is a cost reduction consultant company. Our main office is in Houston, TX but we can work in all of The United States. We would work for you, the client, and always have in mind your needs and try to maximize savings.
Best Trash Pickup Services In Houston
Waste Hauler in Houston TX, Waste Collections in Houston TX, Waste Consultant, Trash Services, Trash Collection, Trash Pickup Services, Trash Reduction, Dumpster Collection ServicesSaving on Waste
