Importance of recycling electronic products
E-waste management has become a pressing concern of modern times. Companies around the world dispose of a large number of electronic products each year. We as individuals contribute to that e-waste pile by throwing out anything that is broken or old. It is the duty of specialized recycling companies and companies to handle these materials. Being certified for e-waste management is a necessary achievement for any company.
The first reason anyone should recycle their old electronics is pretty obvious: resources. Modern devices contain all kinds of materials that need to be recycled. Note that those resources do not regenerate. Also, some devices contain a small amount of precious materials, such as gold. If you add up all the discarded devices, you end up with a lot of gold. And there are many other rare and expensive items that could be easily recycled and reused in industrial processes.
Environmental safety is another big concern. Electronic devices are full of toxic substances that would poison the soil, the air and the water table if they came into contact. There are many organizations that advocate for environmental safety. Failure to properly dispose of e-waste is punishable by law and all businesses should be aware that their disposal activities are closely monitored by authorities and organizations.
Toxic waste will also affect people nearby. The release of toxic substances into the air can cause all kinds of lung disease or other respiratory problems. And when the authorities start looking for those responsible, the consequences for the company causing the pollution will be quite serious. In some cases, the authorities will shut down all production and activity.
Data security is also guaranteed by proper destruction and management of electronic waste. We live in a world where cyber attacks, cyber terrorism and industrial espionage are at their peak. There are many malicious people who would like to get hold of some of your company’s old hard drives or infiltrate your company’s database through old and not secure enough devices. This is why when a company decides to renew its electronic equipment, it must properly destroy the old one.
Recycling of electronic waste is the best solution, but only if it is done by certified companies. The E-Steward represents the global partnership program for companies that responsibly recycle electronic waste. Certified members have dedicated facilities where they extract precious components and destroy any remaining materials, which will in turn be recycled and re-enter the production cycle.