Big Stride for E-Waste Disposal
Electronics have been around for a while—from 8-tracks and Atari to laptops and cell phones—and with NEW stuff coming out everyday, we’re piling up A LOT of old, outdated or inoperable electronic waste or “e-waste” for short.
Now, Waste Management, a leading provider of garbage removal and environmental services in North America, has announced it will adopt RIGOROUS e-waste disposal standards and plans to setup nationwide e-waste drop-off sites for consumers.
Here’s an excerpt from Waste Management’s press release, via the Basel Action Network:
To encourage consumers to dispose of electronic devices in an environmentally sound manner, WM Recycle America has partnered with Sony and LG Electronics, two of the nation’s largest consumer electronics brands, allowing their customers to drop off for free all of their Sony, LG, Zenith or GoldStar branded electronics waste at more than 150 eCycling drop-off centers across the country. WM Recycle America plans to have at least one location in every state through a combination of WM Recycle America locales and WM external service partners; the programs are working towards the goal of having a recycling center within 20 miles of 95 percent of the U.S. population. Other electronic manufacturers’ materials can also be dropped off for a fee.
I’m sure we all have a broken computer or blown out speakers collecting dust in our basement. Recycling them is MUCH better than just throwing them out, but there’s actually a BIZZARE upside to e-waste.
Electronics, like mobile phones and circuit boards, are made with precious metals. Making Japan’s landfills a BONANZA of silver, lead, zinc, copper, tin, gold, palladium and titanium; The Times Online reports.
