How to Recycle Electronics and Computers Securely and Affordably
You probably have an old PC or several of them, which you no longer find useful because either they have insufficient specs, they are old or they simply malfunctioned. Electronics we keep away are usually in bad conditions that does not seem right to hand over to someone in the name of helping the needy.
When you first put that PC or electronic away, it was an upgrade and where to keep the old one wasn’t an issue. However, with time storage space becomes an issue. In addition, you will need to de-clutter your house once in while and this will involve doing away with items you are not using. But how you dispose electronics?
Overview
The first thing we think of when disposing a PC comes in mind is the data. Computers are the new diaries and notebooks. You had probably saved personal notes or data on personal finances on the drive, which is no longer in use. It could either be hardware or software damage. Whichever the case, you can’t destroy data with a sledgehammer. It is the traditional way of disposing items and now insecure.
The best you can achieve with a sledgehammer on your electronics is breaking into smaller pieces. This does not solve your disposal issue. When it comes to a PC, the issue is more than how and where to dispose the parts. It is about the data.
Why Recycle?
Recycling is an opportunity for you to participate in improving our habitat. By choosing to recycle, you help to reduce congestion, clutter, and piling of pollutants. Recycling electronics is also one of the best ways of saving the environment by freeing it from junk. We should also be quick to facilitate this process because junk accumulates fast too. The amount of waste accumulates fast mainly because of increasing wealth among a rapidly rising population in urban areas. As people increase their income, they discard their products and move on to purchase more replacements. Most cities have a huge problem of dealing with waste because it rises faster than they can handle it. Without the participation of the public, it seems totally impossible to maintain an efficient recycling process.
Other reasons for rising waste in urban areas are; rapid changes in technologies evident in production of electronics. The material used to build the electronics is barely biodegradable hence piling of waste. Apart from electronics, a high affinity for fast food is responsible for more waste generated in urban areas.
Environmental Role
Since waste is one of the biggest enemies to environmental preservation, recycling comes in handy. The reason for toxicity is the harmful chemicals used in building of the electronics. The greenhouse gases emerging from piled up rubbish and landfill sites increases pollution to destroy our habitat. The threat of global warming is therefore an international problem calling for cooperation from every responsible person around the globe.
By choosing the option of recycling, we reduce the need for acquiring newer materials for manufacturing products afresh. This means we can spare our rain forests and enjoy a conducive habitat. Finally, the huge amounts of energy used during production and processing raw materials can be preserved via effective recycling. It would cost a fraction of the expense and energy consumption when using a recycling process in comparison to fresh manufacturing.
Humanity Role
With the high and uncontrollable urban migration around the globe, it is only fair that the public adopts a safer way of maintaining their health. The congestion in cities has thinned away space for waste. The landfill sites fill up faster than the authorities can manage. In fact, the UK authorities reported that all their landfills were almost full by 2010.  Many other countries face the same problem both in industrialized and third world countries.
Recycling helps to lower the national budget by saving millions of dollars spent in coping with the junk and finding new raw materials. This is crucial for the economy as cheaper means for manufacturing reduce time, labor, and cost of production.
Perhaps most importantly, the recycling process helps to reserve natural resources for the future generation. This is a long-term vision poised to protect the needs of future occupants of planet earth. By recycling the already useless electronics, we can spare natural resources, energy, raw materials, and money for them to explore. Considering the fact that populations are rising fast around the globe, it is only fair that the current generation prepares for worst living conditions.
What to Recycle
Most electronics provide valuable sources of secondary raw materials. The unmatched competition in production of new electronic devices by tech companies has led to huge piles of disposed devices. Customers lose their gadgets earlier than their life span. The electronics’ life span has also diminished immensely. There is an equal rapid advances in recycling technology to match the increasing waste especially in cities. This is good news because it helps cut down on the increase of waste.
We all love our electronic devices and spend a fortune to possess them. A majority of consumers take loans to purchase their coveted devices to own the latest and trendiest gadgets. From TVs, laptops, desktops, tablets, to home theaters, music equipment, and headphones, we keep accumulating them in our households. The most purchased devices are the beloved pocket size mobile phones with computer power. In the past year, a study revealed that up to 1.5 billion new cell phones were bought. This is equivalent to 1 for every 5 people on earth.
The interesting is part is that the gadgets have a short life span and soon become electronic waste. If they are not traded in for new devices, cash, or credit, these gadgets quickly become useless and contribute to the waste threatening our global environment. This piling of unused mobile phones is fast becoming a global problem calling for quick action to preserve the environment. In the year preceding 2017 where the sale of 1.5 billion was experienced, up to 45 million tons of waste consisting mobile phones was recorded. The United Nations reported that only 20% of this was proper disposal.
Everyone should be responsible enough to ensure they prepare for disposal by giving away their old phones and other devices to charity and recycling companies. Most users are not aware of the programs available that help to dispose these gadgets. In fact, they do not know they could an income from trading them in for cash. Not only are the phones and computers shipped for charity in needy areas but can also be refurbished and reused. The materials used in these devices are perfectly recoverable. This includes, glass, plastic, glass, and metal alike.
Most electronic devices mentioned contained toxic substances and chemicals. This is what makes them all eligible for recycling to save the planet from harmful toxic contents. If left unused in landfills and open places, the chemicals react and produce greenhouse gadgets. We all know the harm posed by the greenhouse gases. We are also aware of the efforts to fight the accumulation of these gases around the world. Giving your electronic away for recycling is a simple task that goes a long way to contribute to these efforts.
Today, 25 states have already passed laws compelling the residents to recycle old electronics. They laws come with definitions of what to recycle. Regardless of where you live however, you need to learn how to dispose electronic waste to help preserve our environment. For example, since most of the electronics contain our personal information, it is wise to wipe out before recycling. Wiping out the memory in electronic is not as easy as basic deleting of files. Each device has specific guidelines of formatting information beyond recovery. Resetting the devices to get all personal data off will require help from the manufacturer. Luckily, all information is available on the Internet. Find the manufacturer’s websites and get the instructions to clean your devices.
How to Recycle
Rapid changes in technologies renders electronics cheap and less profitable to recycle. Tech companies are always producing newer and cheaper gadgets using minimal resources. Without rare and precious minerals used in building the electronics, you might not make a lucrative earning from selling your old computer, phone, or home theater. The resale value of recycled commodities such as steel and oil-based plastics has also fallen sharply recently.  This means that to gain reasonable amounts of profits from recycling products, you need to make give out huge piles of waste.
To date, recycling is not easy because multinational tech companies continue to ship electronic scraps overseas or choose to discard them in warehouses. This makes the efforts of responsible recycling companies hectic and futile. Recycling companies are struggling to maintain their business and at times have to retain their moral responsibility over their quest for profitability. There is less and less revenue from recycled materials due to rapid production of cheap electronics to replace the old ones even before they live out their time.
The Process
Cleaning is the first step in a recycling firm. The toxic waste must be identified and separated for proper environmental-friendly disposal. Before recycling takes place, the gadgets are sorted and broken down into their component parts. This means reducing the devices into their original forms such as glass, plastic, and minerals. Some parts can be re-converted into raw materials and used in component products.
Manual labor plays a big role in the entire process although machines are useful too. Machinery are closely monitored because of the technicality of separation involved. Supervising the machines helps to maintain close interaction to maintain precision and responsibility. There is more to recycling than people assume. It is not a task you would achieve on your own with a few of your employees in your business. This is the reason recycling companies are important to the preservation of the environment.
Additional services included in the recycling package include; destruction of personal and business data in electronic devices. Some electronic devices contain sensitive data and it is only reasonable to spare the owners the heartache of exposing data to unauthorized access. Destroying data in hard drives is a major part of the process too. Copy machines, printers, fax machines, and other items such as phones may also contain data to be thoroughly deleted. Unfortunately, most people assume and give up their devices with sensitive data intact.
For those with a huge volume of electronic devices for recycling, the companies pay for it. These items of high value may also get you the offer of free recycling. If they have high potential for refurbishing and reselling, they are profitable and should not be left lying in landfills.
As an owner of used computers and other electronics, there is no need dismantling them by destroying them. Instead, pack it up and search for a nonprofit organization specializing in providing technology aid to those in need. Do not assume that your electronics are too small and useless; they can be useful as well to charity organization if you drop them off to their collecting points. Salvation Army and Goodwill are among the most commonly known charities known to specialize in old equipment for poorer and needy populations.
Who should you Recycle?
Most people avoid the recycling option because of the cost involved in recycling. They deem it too much work considering the little gain they stand to gain from it. When a few devices are involved and the profits expected are minimal, not many people agree to purse this idea. However, it is important to consider the benefits of being a responsible citizen and contributing towards preserving the environment.
Everyone should be accountable to eliminate accumulation of electronic junk. With the reduced life of electronics, there is always something new to purchase sooner than we can plan for it. Every adults owns several electronics and children too. The urge to get the latest, most popular, trendiest, and most efficient product drives us to purchase electronics as soon as we are capable. The result is a pile of electronic junk in our backyard and attics. Instead of letting the marketers control our appetite to drop what we own for the sake of the latest products, it would be wise to collect the old stuff and give them away for recycling.
Before giving away devices, remember to clean it up by deleting your personal data. Deleting data may not be enough so you need to learn formatting techniques to help you clear out all data from the memory. Ensure that the data is unrecoverable before giving it away so you will not risk becoming a victim of identity theft.
Participating in the battle for preserving our planet is a noble idea for everyone. Recycling program and efforts are numerous and available to anyone who wants to volunteer. Volunteers are encouraged to participate by providing bonuses and awareness programs. The progress made over the years is expected to positively influence the battle to save planet earth from global warming.
Anyone who owns old computers and other electronic equipment no longer useful in their homes is eligible for the programs. There are plenty of charity organizations specializing in old equipment. You do need to destroy it because it could help someone half across the world after refurbishing. At the same time, you will have saved your habitat by keeping it clean and free from toxins. The nonprofits have efficient networks to ensure that the old equipment get to the right users in good condition.
If you have accumulated non bio-degradable materials including old batteries, toys, and other electronics in your trash bin or attic, collect them and take a trip to a recycling center. All you need is research on the Internet and find out the organizations nearest to you. You may also monitor their activities to identify the ones you want you feel interested to support or join. You will be finding numerous organizations involved in the task. Most of them are free and convenient with online directory lists to make donations easy. They also accept all sorts of electronics ranging from laptops, old design desktops, tablets, phones, printers, toys, and all used electronics working.
You may also check with retail stores selling electronics. A good number of them provide customers with different ways to recycle electronics. You may easily find the contacts from the store where you bought the electronic devices. Some organizations allow you to trade in old computers and accessories for cash credit. This is perhaps the most lucrative option attracting most consumers to give up their old computers.
 

 
How to Recycle a CRT TV
 
The so-called CRT or cathode ray tube TVs contain hazardous waste such as lead and mercury, and not just a touch of lead - up to 8 pounds of material. Electronic recycling policies are not the same in every community, so recycling of old CRT TV may not be hard for some people. You can find a good recycling option with persistence no matter where you live.
 
Instructions
Call your city's recycling program and find out if they accept CRT TVs for recycling. This is the easiest option, but not all communities do this. If it is your case, determine if you bring the old TV to a recycling center or leave it on the sidewalk for collection.
 
Search for other recycling centers near you that accept TVs.
Visit a nearby recycling station to discuss TV recycling. This electronics store offers free TV recycling when you buy a new TV through them, and paid for the electronics recycling to dispose of your old CRT TV.
Check with your TV manufacturer to see if they have TV recycling programs. If so, find out how to recycle your old CRT TV. You may have to mail the unit or take it back to a place of return.
 
Check with senior centers, youth centers, religious groups, and nonprofit organizations to see if they need television. If your old CRT TV works, give it to one of these groups.
 
How cathode ray tube televisions are recycled
Television sets are everyday items in living rooms, rooms and even kitchens in our homes, windows to the world that allow us to access information and entertainment content of all kinds. But when they become waste that requires specific recycling processes to avoid their negative impact on the environment.
Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) televisions are the oldest technology used in the manufacture of this type of equipment, although there is still some waste of this type that still requires a specific recycling process.
 
One of the most common procedures is to subject them to a preliminary phase of manual disassembly, selecting and separating the casings according to their composition, in order to subsequently recycle them. The tube must be separated, to obtain the front and cone glass, by diamond cutting or a thermal stressing procedure.
 
At this point, the phosphorescent powder present in the front glass is extracted, while the glass that forms the cone, which contains lead, is sent to authorized managers who can provide the appropriate processing. The correct separation of the two types of glass is a key element, since if it is not done correctly; the recycling targets cannot be achieved.
 
By means of the process described above, the recycling of televisions and monitors makes it possible to recover different materials, of which glass accounts for more than half the weight of the total, followed by metals (ferrous and non-ferrous) and plastics. The metals are directly directed to the foundries, while the recovered plastics re-enter the production process of new plastics.
 
To give just a few examples of how the recovered materials become part of a new value chain, we can point out that the glass containing lead, coming from the screens, is used in the manufacture of various types of ceramics, while the front glass, without lead, can be used in the production of new crystals.
 
Currently, the available technology allows the percentage of material recovery of this equipment to be around 87%, which can be used for the manufacture of new products.
 
What can be recycled from the inside of a TV?
 
Televisions may not be the first items you consider when you think about recycling, but they contain several components that can be reused. With the switch from analog to digital and the advent of flat screen technology, you may be thinking about replacing your TV with a newer model. Recycling can be an environmentally friendly option and you can enlist the help of specialized organizations to assist you.
 
Americans discarded 27 million televisions and stored 99 million more in 2007, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The televisions contain glass, copper and aluminum, which can be used again. However, they also contain the toxic chemicals mercury and cadmium, which can be harmful to the environment. In some states, including California, it is illegal to throw away or dispose of a television in a landfill.
 
Components
Recyclable components on your television include the screen glass, internal circuit boards, the plastic used for the outer casing and the scrap metals that can be found inside the TV, such as copper or aluminum. These metals usually melt and become new components or products. The glass of CRT displays may contain toxic levels of lead. Electronic recycling organizations will remove and shred the glass in a controlled environment before cleaning it for reuse.
 
Method
If you want to recycle all or part of your TV, look for local companies that will advise you and collect your electronic devices. If your TV can still be used, for example, if you have replaced it with a newer model, you can also contact nonprofit organizations in your area that could use all the components of your TV. Once you have found a suitable company to contact, they will advise you on whether any of the components can be recycled as they are, or whether they need to be treated before reuse. They will then take over the recycling process.
 
Considerations
Televisions can contain toxic chemicals that can be hazardous to your health if you are exposed to them. Therefore, you should never try to dismantle a television in your home. Electronic recycling companies often offer special facilities to dismantle and treat the various recyclable components of a television, as well as to dispose of the other parts safely. Older CRT televisions can also contain high levels of static electricity, which can cause electric shock or injury if not disposed of properly.
 
 

AVA Recycling is picked as the best E-Cycling company in ChicagoLeading electronic recycling company, AVA Recycling, is selected as the best Electronic Recycling, IT Asset Recovery, and DATA Destruction company in Chicago
AVA Recycling is one of the leading electronic recycling company, helping to keep the earth safe and clean for the present and future generations. With a wide range of services offered to make sure the earth stays greener and safe for all, the company’s efforts have been recognized as it was recently selected as the best Electronic Recycling, IT Asset Recovery, and DATA Destruction company in Chicago.
Electronic wastes are fast-becoming threats to the safety and existence of a clean earth and of course, a healthy environment. With many of these electronics containing different harmful chemicals and metals that were used for their creation, indiscriminate disposing of such wastes can be devastatingly harmful to the environment. Consequently, many states have made it illegal to throw away certain electronics. This is where AVA Recycling comes in by making sure such wastes are properly gotten rid of.
One of the major concerns of companies, especially large corporations is the safety of their data, particularly when assets hosting such information are to be destroyed or recycled. AVA Recycling has also stood out in this respect, with the HIPAA-compliant service provider ensuring that the information does not fall into the hands of any company or individual while destroying the waste in a manner set by the government, so there is no need to worry of any leakage.
Premier Computer Electronics Recycling and IT Asset Recovery (ITAD) company handles electronics, metals and junk vehicles of all types, with the aim of making the earth cleaner and living better. Services offered by the company include e-waste pickup, drive destruction, fluorescent bulb and battery recycling, and paper shredding. Other e-cycling solutions provided by the faith-based company are asset recovery and junk-scrap hauling.
The comprehensiveness and relative affordability of the services delivered have made AVA Recycling one of the most sought-after companies in the field, serving several industries including telecoms, manufacturing, financial, healthcare, IT, as well as residential clients.
The company’s efforts have not gone unrecognized, which explains the recent award as the best e-cycling company in the whole of Chicago.
More information about AVA Recycling and the services offered can be found on the website.
About AVA Recycling
AVA Recycling is an e-cycling company headquartered in Chicago. The Premier Computer Electronics Recycling and IT Asset Recovery (ITAD) company handles all types of electronics, metals and junk vehicles.
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Media Contact
AVA Recycling
Mark Domnenko
866-770-2650
[email protected]
Adddison IL USA
https://www.avarecycling.com
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