Electronic waste is a growing concern for many reasons. The fact that electronics manufacturers are always in competition to produce bigger and better gadgets has significantly increased the amount of e-waste which is accumulated. The worst thing about having electronic waste is that it contains harmful substances such as lead, cadmium and mercury. The government has taken steps to protect people from these residues, and the most recent one has been banning the disposal of e-waste in landfills. In case you have heaps of electronics which are no longer in use at your business, here are a few tips that can assist you in the disposal.
Donating or reselling
If the computers are still in good working condition and you are removing them so that you can upgrade, you can look for charities and organisations that will not mind having the old machines with them. Take time and make arrangements with the receiving organisation for the transport and installation of the gadgets in these locations. You could also advertise and see whether there are people interested in buying the computers.
Disassembling and recycling
If you have old computers that have obsolete parts such as CRTs, it might be impossible to get a person to take them or buy them. The best option, in this case, would be to get someone to disassemble the computers and dispose of the parts separately. The elements that have the harmful lead and mercury components should never be disposed of in a landfill. The parts that can be reused should be disposed of in the proper recycle bin. Many waste management companies usually organise recycling events where everything that can be reused is collected.
Refurbishing for reuse
Instead of trying to dispose of the old electronics and getting new ones, you can opt to have them refurbished and continue using them. Most of the machines are made in a way that makes it possible to update the software and also the hardware, as opposed to buying a new device altogether.
In case you feel that of the three options, disposal and recycling will be best suited for the condition of your computers, it is best to consult a waste management company for guidelines. You should never dispose of your computer in a random skip bin. Call a commercial rubbish removal company to find out what they can help you dispose of. You may be surprised to learn what else they can collect!
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