E-cycling your e-wastes

E-wastes are consumer electronics, such as TVs, video equipment, computers, keyboards, and phones. They make up a small percentage in the waste stream, but their quantity is steadily increasing as more are replaced with newer, faster gadgets.

Electronic products are made from valuable resources, such as precious and other metals, plastics, and glass, all of which require energy to mine and manufacture them. Reusing and recycling these materials from end-of-life electronics conserves our natural resources and avoids air and water pollution, as well as greenhouse gas emissions that are caused by manufacturing new products.

There are many benefits to e-cycling:
[B] Conserves natural resources[/B]. Recycling recovers valuable materials from old electronics that can be used to make new products. As a result, we reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce pollution, save energy, and save resources by extracting fewer raw materials from the earth.
[B] Protects your surroundings.[/B] Safe recycling of outdated electronics promotes sound management of toxic chemicals such as lead and mercury.
[B] Helps others.[/B] Donating your used electronics benefits your community by passing on ready-to-use or refurbished equipment to those who need it.

However, before you recycle it, look into donating your older electronics first. Prior to donating, make sure the recipient will be able to use it and make minor upgrades or repairs.

Recycling vs Disposal

Of the 2.25 million tons of TVs, cell phones and computer products ready for end-of-life (EOL) management, 18 percent (414,000 tons) was collected for recycling and 82 percent (1.84 million tons) was disposed of, primarily in landfills.

From 1999 through 2005, recycling rate was relatively constant at about 15 percent. During these years, the amount of electronics recycled increased but the percentage did not because the amount of electronics sent for end of life management increased each year as well.

For 2006-2007, the recycling rate increased to 18 percent, possibly because several states have started mandatory collection and recycling programs for electronics.

Almost all of the materials used to manufacture a cell phone can be recovered to make new products. Metals, plastics, batteries and the packaging materials can be recycled and turned into new products.

Cell phones contain a number of different metals—gold, silver, platinum, palladium, rhodium, copper, tin, lead, brass and zinc—that can be extracted and recovered in the recycling process. The recovered metals can be used by a number of different industries such as jewelry, plating, electronics, plumbing, automotive, and art foundries. Products that can be manufactured from the recovered materials include automotive catalytic converters, plumbing faucets and piping, and gold or silver jewelry.

The plastic on the cell phone can also be recycled. It can be recycled into new products as garden furniture, license plate frames, non-food containers and replacement automotive parts. Due to its high thermal value, the plastic could alternatively be used as a fuel.

The cell phone packaging materials can also be recycled and made as a component of fiber board manufacture. When the rechargeable battery can no longer be reused, the battery can be recycled into other rechargeable battery products. [B][I](CoCo)[/I][/B] [I]Source: www.epa.gov/e-Cycling[/I]