Mobile phones, computers, copiers, laptops, iPods®, MP3 players, iPads®, and printers are among the items that constitute e-waste, or electronic waste, when they stop functioning. Recycling services that accept e-waste help the environment in many ways; however, only 12.5% of electronic waste gets disposed of responsibly every year. Here’s more about e-waste recycling and its benefits.

Why Are E-Waste Recycling Services So Important?

1. Protect the Atmosphere, Soil, & Waterways

When people send electronic waste to landfills, the toxic chemicals in the items leach into the soil. The resulting contamination doesn’t stop there, as toxins eventually end up in groundwater sources. People also dump e-waste into waterways, harming marine plants and wildlife and releasing volatile chemical vapors into the air when it gets warm or hot. Recycling services keep this toxic waste out of the environment to help maintain a cleaner, healthier planet.

2. Save Energy

Annually, recycling 1 million laptops alone saves enough electricity to power 3,500 American homes. Responsible e-waste recycling and reuse also save energy used to manufacture electronics. For example, it takes 530 pounds of fossil fuels, 48 pounds of chemicals, and 1.5 tons of water to produce one computer tower and monitor.

3. Provide Materials for New Products

Cell phones contain high amounts of metal, including gold, silver, palladium, and copper—all of which can be reused to make watches and surgical instruments, among other products. Recycling 1 million cell phones annually saves over 20,000 pounds of copper, 550 pounds of silver, 50 pounds of gold, and 20 pounds of palladium to make new items.

4. Protect Human Health

E-waste recycling services product the health of the planet as well as the people inhabiting it. Lead in electronic waste increases the risk of central and peripheral nervous system damage, as well as blood and kidney harm when it enters the air, soil, and groundwater. Children are at the highest risk for lead contamination.

For responsible e-waste disposal, contact Round Bottom Recycling, in Milford, OH. They’ve served Clermont County since 2006, offering fair market prices on metal so that you can recycle and earn cash simultaneously. Call (513) 248-4435 today with questions, or learn more about recycling services online. Get additional recycling tips on Facebook.