Managing E-Waste Properly
Recycle computer equipment properly to minimize the damage caused to the environment, ecosystems, and humans around the world. Did you know that we produce 177 million tonnes of waste each year in England alone? Of all of the waste produced, there is no denying that WEEE is incredibly damaging.
WEEE stands for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment, and computers certainly fall into this category. Companies and households discard millions of tonnes of WEEE items per annum. In this guide, we will shed further light on the damage these materials cause and why computer recycling the right way is so important.
What Are The Risks Of Incorrect Computer Recycling?
It is important to begin by establishing the risks that are associated with overlooking computer recycling at your business or going about it in an incorrect manner. Computers contain a complex range of materials, including precious metals. Due to the complicated mix of materials, some are hazardous, for example, lead and mercury, and health risks can arise from exposure to some substances, for example, mercury is released from fluorescent tubes. These hazardous materials are building up landfills, causing severe damage to the environment, getting into the soil and water. The impacts aren’t only felt near to the landfills, as the particles can travel far distances through the air, impacting communities further away.
This is why a specialized WEEE recycling process needs to be followed. This is why the WEEE Directive was established in 2003 to address corporate computer recycling. This was put into place to address the environmental, economic, and social impact of all unwanted electronic and electrical equipment when it is no longer required and set to dispose of.
Under the WEEE directive, all retailers now must give customers the option to recycle their old computers and other electronics whenever they buy something new. Specialized waste removal services can help with this. This can either take place via a drop off point within the store or as part of a collection service. However, these companies then need to commit to getting rid of the electronic items in the safest manner. So, how do you go about this? Read on to discover more about working with computer recycling companies and some other useful suggestions.
How To Go About Computer Electronics Recycling
So, how are you supposed to recycle used computer equipment? What is the safe and correct process to use? You generally have three options: resell, donate, or recycle. Before you do any of these, you will want to make sure you clean the hard drive. After all, identity theft is rife at the moment, and you do not want to run the risk of having any sensitive data compromised. Make sure you save the files you want to keep to either a new computer, external hard drive, CD-ROM, or USB drive. If you do not know how to do this, you should refer to the PC manufacturer’s website or owner’s manual for the correct information. You can then use one of the available utility programs to wipe the hard drive. These are available online and in stores. Some of these programs are available free of charge. However, make sure you choose a program carefully, as they do vary. Some will wipe or overwrite the hard drive numerous times, whereas others will only do so once. There are then some that erase the entire disk, whereas others allow you to pick and choose what folders or files to erase.
Once you have done this, you then need to decide how to go about disposing of the computer. If your item is beyond help and would be of no use to any charities, you need to look into computer electronics recycling. Luckily, there are companies today that will handle this for you, but you do need to choose carefully.
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