Earth has limited resources. How we access them, use them, and recycle them affects all of us. The goal of responsible recycling of electronic waste is to move away from a single-use scenario, and focus on reusing items if possible.
When an electronic device reaches the end of its initial usage cycle, we hope it moves into the recycle stream.
When someone buys a new cell phone, their old device might still be usable, even if it’s a couple of generations old. Even if they have some damage, these types of devices can be refurbished and sold for a second life in markets with a demand for lower priced electronics. Similar scenarios exist for tablets, laptops, and even desktop computers.
For some devices, however, refurbishment and resale in a secondary market may not be a viable option. For example, the device may be too badly damaged to be refurbished, or the technology may be too old to be very useful. In those cases, the devices can be dismantled so that individual components inside the device can be removed. All types of electronics are made up of high-value and low-value parts. The high-value parts might still be reused in certain manufacturing channels. Other components can be harvested and used to repair similar devices.
No matter whether we’re processing state-of-the-art servers from a hyper-scale data center, or DVRs from 10 years ago, we know how to maximize the resources that make up modern electronics. Reusing these valuable commodities reduces the carbon footprint of your business and our entire society.
Carbon footprint and environmental impact are metrics that are becoming ever more important. These numbers provide a quantifiable way to measure and conceive of a company’s level of commitment to a better future. We can help maximize that number, which is good for everyone.