The E-Waste Epidemic

The rapid advancement of technology in the last 20 years has resulted in countless technologies and gadgets that have become embedded into our everyday lives. From cell phones to personal computing devices, we are more connected than ever before. But what happens when those miraculous gadgets need to be replaced? Computers don’t last forever, and for those of us who live on the technological cutting edge, owning a cell phone more than two years old is unthinkable. Although people don’t normally dump their once-prized computer towers on the curb every day, more often than not, smaller items such as charging cables, batteries and peripherals end up in the garbage heap. What is e-waste? E-waste is exactly what you might have already guessed: electronic items that are broken, obsolete, or otherwise no longer needed and are destined for a landfill. Whether it’s an old laptop you no longer use, or an aging cell phone collecting dust in a drawer, once it finds its way into your trash can, it’s e-waste.

As a society, there’s no doubt that our recycling habits have improved dramatically in the last 20 years. According to the EPA, in 1990, the recycling rate was 16.0%, and 33.2 million tons of materials were recycled in the US. In 2009, the recycling rate was 33.8% and 82.0 million tons of materials were recycled. But these figures reflect recycling as a whole … aluminum cans, paper goods, yard trimmings, etc. But where do we stand when it comes to e-waste?

Statistics show that we don’t treat electronics the same way we treat items such as glass bottles and newspapers. Between 2003-2005 (the most recent statistics available), the EPA states that:

“About 15-20 percent [of end-of-life electronics] were collected for recycling. The recycled/disposed split remained fairly constant between 1999-2005. Although recycling continues to increase, the percentage recycled remains constant because of the ever-increasing number of electronics available for EOL management.”

Why are we hesitant to recycle our old electronic items? More often than not, it’s about convenience. Sometimes it’s much easier to toss out electronic items deemed as “trash” rather than finding a way to dispose of them properly and safely. There aren’t electronic recycling centers on every corner, so sometimes it’s just not a viable option.

We’re here to help.

ServerMonkey wants to make life easier for those trying to ditch their old electronic and IT items in a responsible way. With our Buy Back Program, we offer customers a convenient solution for disposing of their used hardware in an environmentally friendly manner. If your gear is still functional and seems to be something someone else can give a good home, we can provide you with a cash offer for your items. If it’s something we can’t buy at the moment, we’ll be happy to find a solution to make sure that your items avoid the landfill.

Help us pull the plug on e-waste. If you’d like to find an e-waste recycling center close to where you live, check out the Telecommunications Industry Association E-cycling Central to find a location near you.

For more information about ServerMonkey's refurbished server offerings, please visit www.servermonkey.com.