The continued growth of electronics industries comes with increases in deprecated equipment, discarded components and manufacturing byproducts—all collectively termed “e-waste”. Various proposals for legislation and sustainability programs have surfaced in recent years to combat this trend, though the battle is not without setbacks. Some insight into the development of responses to e-waste can illustrate how businesses can partner with companies like TechWaste Recycling to both contribute to the solution and improve their own performance.
A Call to Action
A report in January 2019 from the Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy (PACE) highlighted the scope of the global e-waste problem: over 50 million metric tons of e-waste are produced annually worldwide, projected to reach 120 million metric tons per year by 2050. Most of that e-waste is not properly recycled, either. The threat to the environment, both directly and in the form of accelerated resource depletion, is hard to overstate. However, considerable setbacks to addressing this problem have made themselves apparent:
- Products are often not designed with recycling in mind and may even be deliberately designed to degrade ahead of time to force consumers to buy new electronics.
- No federal legislation exists in the US that requires recycling of e-waste—only 25 states and the District of Columbia have enacted any legislation to prohibit dumping e-waste in landfills, and no new states have joined the list since 2011.
- Federal legislation concerning industry waste, such as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), contain many loopholes concerning e-waste that result in much of it being shipped overseas for other nations to deal with.
Strategies for Combating E-Waste
In light of legislative weakness on this front, efforts to provide both consumers and businesses with the means to safely recycle end-of-life products are ongoing. The EPA and other agencies have collaborated to create the National Strategy for Electronics Stewardship (NSES) as a set of guidelines and goals to work towards, while the Coalition for American Electronics Recycling (CAER) unites U.S. businesses in developing an industry for proper e-waste recycling. The latter comprises companies such as TechWaste Recycling, whose mission statement is to provide other organizations with accessible means to recycle e-waste to accommodate state or local regulations.
What You Can Do
Turning to TechWaste Recycling allows you to establish e-waste management strategies that not only remove cumbersome products from your premises but also help bolster your bottom line. From consultation and pickup to processing and certification, our secure recycling process encompasses a thorough recovery channel to make the most of potential e-waste that would otherwise accumulate in landfills. We strive to work with you to meet your needs and local guidelines, protecting your interests in the process. Contact us today to learn more and take a step towards running a more responsible business.
TechWaste Recycling directly services all of Southern California and provides pickup services to its facilities from nationwide locations. Visit TechWaste Recycling’s website at www.techwasterecycling.com to schedule a pickup that works for your convenience and schedule.
Contact Info:
Richard Steffens
1940 E. Occidental street
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Phone: 866-637-8469