Title: Basic Information about Electronics Stewardship | Sustainable Management of Electronics | US EPA
Headings: Basic Information about Electronics Stewardship
Basic Information about Electronics Stewardship
On this page:
Life Cycle Stages of Electronics
Raw Materials
Supply/Manufacture
Sale
Use
Collection
Landfill
Reuse/Refurbish
Recycling
Sustainable Electronics Management
Reusing and donating electronics
Recycling electronics
Buying green
Benefits of Electronics Stewardship

Content: In turn, the overall impact of the product on human health and the environment will be reduced. Sale
The first step in using electronics sustainably involves purchasing equipment that has been designed with environmentally preferable attributes. Use
Manufacturers have a responsibility to create products for longevity, durability, reusability and recyclability; consumers play a significant role in maintaining their electronics. Some tips to save energy and increase a product’s lifespan are powering down the electronic device or putting it in standby mode when not actively in use, using energy efficient appliances (products that display the ENERGY STAR label), reducing brightness and printing documents double-sided. Collection
Used electronics are collected at community drop-off points, through manufacturer mail-in take back and warranty programs and at certain electronics retailers. To help ensure that used electronics are managed responsibly, it is best to use a certified electronics recycler. After collection, reusable electronics are refurbished and resold, and recyclables are sent to recovery facilities to be sorted, cleaned and processed into materials that can be used in manufacturing. Unfortunately, in some cases electronics are disposed of as waste to be collected by waste haulers and landfilled. Landfill
Modern landfills are engineered facilities designed to receive specific kinds of waste, including municipal solid waste (MSW), construction and demolition debris (C&D) and hazardous waste which are deposited for final disposal and covered.