The underestimated impact of electronics recycling on the environment and economy

Reduce, reuse and recycle. It’s been with most of us for decades, dating back to the 1970s when it first became popular. When it comes to electronics, recycling is a key way to protect the environment. But there are also some surprising economic impacts that e-waste recycling can have.

Here’s what you need to know:

Environmental Impact

If we don’t recycle our electronic devices, they end up in landfills, where all other waste goes. This may not be ideal for most items thrown away each year, but when it comes to electronics, it can be downright dangerous. This is due to the way these items break down.

These items often have plastic parts embedded in them, which not only take much longer to decompose than organic materials (e.g. 20 to 500 years), but also can leach toxins (such as lead and cadmium) when electronics decompose. It enters the local environment and contaminates groundwater. This can be very dangerous for people living in the area, which can lead to health problems such as cancer and neurological problems. And mining new materials to meet the demand for electronics certainly has negative environmental impacts on local habitats that can persist for years after the mines close.

Properly recycling your electronics can help reduce your CO2 emissions, which is a surefire way to help tackle climate change.

Impact on the economy

From an economic perspective, the consequences of not properly disposing of e-waste are enormous. In other words, it is a loss of resources that could be reused in other electronic products.

Currently, this translates to a loss of $57 billion per year. This means that companies that manufacture electronics may have to rely more on mining new resources such as iron, copper and gold. This requires greater investment in fewer raw materials. In fact, according to the World Economic Forum, “there is 100 times more gold in a ton of mobile phones than in a ton of gold ore.” (Yes, really.)

It is difficult to pinpoint the cause of rising electronics prices, with factors such as inflation and innovation taking a toll, but increased investment in sourcing raw materials may be a contributing factor.

How you can help with the e-waste problem

Currently, less than 20% of e-waste is recycled. The best thing you can do about this on a personal level is to use your electronics for as long as possible to reduce the need for new ones and buy used ones when possible. Plus, it can help your finances. This is especially true if you use your cash wisely.

Let’s say you’re spending $1,000 a year on a new phone, and this year you decide to put that money into a retirement account. If that money grew at 7% per year for the next 30 years, it would be worth more than $7,600. And that’s assuming you leave it alone for the entire period and don’t invest any additional money.

Aside from that, when it comes time to get rid of your old electronics, it’s ideal to recycle them at a local e-bike depot or retailer that handles this type of material. This is because they are set up to handle this type of recycling. These, too, are often free, so excluding transportation costs, they shouldn’t exceed your budget.

Nonetheless, if your location or situation makes access difficult, it may be a good idea to store your electronics for a while until you can send enough to make it worth the effort. (Remember that batteries may need to be recycled separately.) Options for your region can be found here.

E-waste is a big problem. And while it’s not the average person’s fault, it’s still our responsibility to properly dispose of the electronics we rely on so much to run our lives. Fortunately, there are resources available to help you recycle these products in a safer way. We just have to be willing to utilize them.

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