Title: The Importance of Electronics Recycling and E-Waste
Headings: E-Waste and the Importance of Electronics Recycling
Sustainable Businesses Recycling Glossary
E-Waste and the Importance of Electronics Recycling
What Is E-Waste
Why Is Electronics Recycling Important?
How Can Consumers Recycle Their Old Electronics Devices?
Are You Allowed to Throw E-Waste in the Trash?
E-Waste Recycling Legislation

Content: Many thousands of tonnes also find their way around the world to be pulled apart by hand or burned by the world’s poorest workers," the World Economic Forum notes. " This crude form of urban mining has consequences for people’s wellbeing and creates untold pollution." In the U.S., the recycling rate is closer to 25%, with much of the e-waste being shipped offshore. Why Is Electronics Recycling Important? Rich Source of Raw Materials Internationally, only 10-15 percent of the gold in e-waste is successfully recovered while the rest is lost. Ironically, electronic waste contains deposits of precious metal estimated to be between 40 and 50 times richer than ores mined from the earth, according to the United Nations. Solid Waste Management Because the explosion of growth in the electronics industry, combined with short product life cycle has led to a rapid escalation in the generation of solid waste. Toxic Materials Because old electronic devices contain toxic substances such as lead, mercury, cadmium and chromium, proper processing is essential to ensure that these materials are not released into the environment. They may also contain other heavy metals and potentially toxic chemical flame retardants. International Movement of Hazardous Waste The uncontrolled movement of e-waste to countries where cheap labor and primitive approaches to recycling have resulted in health risks to residents exposed to the release of toxins continues to an issue of concern.