Reducing carbon footprint with local e-waste recycling.

Reducing carbon footprint with local e-waste recycling.

Each year sees the production of 20-25 million tons of e-waste, defined as unwanted electronics such as computers, phones, printers, and servers. As the amount of e-waste increases, it has also spread across international borders, with large amounts being transported overseas for disposal in lower-income countries. As a result, e-waste is becoming a global problem, with its disposal releasing ever-higher levels of greenhouse gasses.

When e-waste is not reused or recycled properly there are two large negative CO2 impacts.

1. E-waste disposal contributes to climate change due to the chemicals released when it is burned. Electronics contain materials like copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), and iron (Fe), and when burned these metals accumulate in the air. Collectively, these various chemicals – when burned for disposal – cause harm both to humans and the environment.
2. New electronics made from virgin materials must be manufactured to fill consumer demand. The manufacture of electronics releases large amounts of CO2. It was found that, for every ton of electronics manufactured, 2.9 metric tons of carbon were released. When properly recycled, only 10 percent of greenhouse gas emissions are released. Compared to traditional disposal methods such as burning, recycling provides new alternatives to reduce emissions. Fortunately, there are already policies in place to help companies reduce their e-waste.

Why it maters!

Although electronic equipment waste or “E-waste” only makes up a small percentage of our landfills, about 2%, their toxic waste material makes up a significant percentage at nearly 70%!

The first step is to reduce waste in the first place.

• Before you buy brand new equipment, consider purchasing refurbished IT equipment. Not only will you get the performance you need, but you’ll get the equipment at a fraction of the cost. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better Green solution than to reuse. It extends the life of the equipment, reducing the need to manufacture another one, which reduces the use of natural resources.

If you can reuse it or have it refurbished this will save you time, money, and a lot of CO2 emissions you would otherwise be producing.

• The use and maintenance phase is where IT equipment will spend the vast majority of its life. Technology over time tends to become less energy efficient. This means that upgrading your hardware to take advantage of these improvements can cut down on your energy consumption and reduce your carbon footprint.

There will come a time when your electronic equipment does reach a point of obsolescence and reuse is just no longer a viable option. Recycling is now the best option.

• Recycling converts the electronics back into raw commodities for manufacturing new items, eliminating the need to mine ore from the earth – the most environmentally damaging activity on the planet. In this instance, make sure you’re taking the steps to properly recycle or partner with someone who specializes in ITAD.
• The CO2 impact of shipping recycled e-waste is frequently overlooked in IT carbon footprint measurements, however. Shipping e-waste across the country - and around the world - to centralized recycling facilities adds significantly to the carbon footprint of that waste. Even with the best intentions, shipping can reduce the impact of your recycling efforts.

NOT ALL E-WASTE RECYCLING IS CREATED THE SAME!

Local e-waste recycling sets Velocity Tech Solutions IT asset disposition (ITAD) apart from the rest.

• No matter where you are located in the United States we work with regional certified and licensed e-waste recyclers. Our network is so big that we are able to get you the most competitive pricing while also meeting your specific needs.

• Most companies have a few recycling centers scattered around the country. The nearest one to you could be in another state or hundreds of miles away. Getting your waste to these centers can take excessive logistics, high shipping costs, and a high CO2 cost. With Velocity ITAD our local model reduces shipping and CO2 costs making the entire recycling process more sustainable and cheaper.

Check out our website for more information on our ITAD services and reach out to one of our experts to start your green IT journey.

Helping you succeed with Sustainable IT: https://velocitytechsolutions.com/itad-services/

With technology evolving rapidly, IT asset disposition (ITAD) is an essential component of safe and secure enterprise computing. Velocity Tech Solutions offers ITAD services and a trade-In program that can eliminate the headache of outdated or excess equipment in a secure, financially and environmentally responsible manner. We work with you to determine the best IT asset disposition approach, whether it’s destruction or secure refurbishment. We can help you throughout the hardware lifecycle.