Are you wondering where and how to dispose of your digital and electronic devices at home?
You are not alone. Many citizens are still unsure about what to do with their broken or outdated computers, gadgets, and machines in their households, especially if they contain electronic parts.
Broken hair dryers, defective toasters, sorted out computer are often discarded devices that end up in the rubbish bin, which is the last place they should ideally go. It is estimated that only about 45 percent of the almost two million tons produced annually are disposed of properly.
In order to boost the adequate disposal of household and high-tech utensils and the recycling of raw materials used in them, there are various recycling options many are unaware of.
And because certain electronic devices contain flammable or even toxic parts, it is even more important to be informed about the correct electronic waste disposal or leave it to experts in this business.
So, find out about the best way forward to dispose of or recycle your e-waste at home.
1. What exactly does “e-waste” mean?
Most devices that require electricity to function, whether from the socket, the telephone cable, or a battery, fall under the term e-waste. Products are also part of electronic waste if they contain permanently installed electrical or electronic components. These include shoes with illuminated soles, backpacks with tightly sewn lighting, bathroom cabinets with built-in illuminated mirrors, an electrically adjustable TV chair or a safe with an electric lock.
As you can see, this affects many items you wouldn’t immediately classify as e-waste. It is therefore wise to consult a professional and licensed waste removal company that can offer guidance and support with the adequate disposal and recycling of the waste one is concerned about.
2. Where do I put my e-waste?
If you recall where you have purchased your devices or machines, then you can contact your dealer or online shop to find out if they take back disused electrical appliances. For larger devices such as fridges for example, this works in exchange of old for new and shops like Argos offer such against a one-off fee.
This take-back option gives you more affordable and flexible ways to hand over your old equipment while the recyclable parts can be recycled from it and the remaining scrap is disposed of properly.
The other option are collection points or recycling centersof the respective councils where they may accept some e-waste items for free. However, if you do not have a car, van, or truck, it may be difficult to drop larger items there. In this case you can hire a man with van rubbish removal service and they will take care of everything for you conveniently and safely.
3. Why does it make sense to recycle the old electronic equipment?
Often large quantities of valuable and increasingly scarce metals are irretrievably lost, but also pollutants are not safely disposed of, because e-waste is not recycled appropriately. The devices contain, for example, heavy metals such as mercury, lead and cadmium, but also flame retardants and CFCs. The following applies to all of them: they can endanger health and the environment.
Conversely, valuable materials such as gold, platinum, copper, and pure plastics can also be extracted from devices. Depending on the type of device, between 75 and 85 percent of the collected old equipment must be recycled according to the law. Waste equipment that is not disposed of properly can endanger human health and the environment.
This is especially true when old equipment is exported as second-hand goods or illegally to Asia or Africa. There, people, including children, endanger their health every day to use primitive means to make the raw materials (e.g., copper from PVC cables) from electronic waste usable again. In addition, the many pollutants contaminate soils and air.
4. What to do with broken electronic devices?
Charities or second-hand shops are a way to give old appliances a second life and many junk removal companies work with them. Even slightly defective devices can often be quickly recovered in a few simple steps and repair shopscan often recover the item. You can then sell the refurbished or fixed appliance, or you can also sell defective electrical appliances. However, proper disposal is then not ensured. Scrap dealers make money mainly on metal parts. It is possible that the broken devices are illegally transported abroad and not recycled. It’s therefore safer to leave it to the experts.
What to do if I just want to dispose of my large old device without buying a new one?
For larger devices, the principle of old versus new applies: If a device is purchased, a device of the same category (e.g., television against television) must be taken back free of charge by the retailer. Other classics include refrigerators, washing machines, and tumble dryers. This also applies if the device is delivered to your home.
In this case, when concluding the purchase contract, you must inform the dealer whether an old device will be given away upon delivery. This service must always be free of charge for brick-and-mortar retail, and costs may be incurred for online retail or for the delivery. However, if you do not purchase a new item and just want to dispose of the old large item, then you must dispose of it according to the UK WEEE Directive Regulations and drop it or arrange for it to be delivered to the WEEE recycling plants. This can be complicated and difficult, and it is advisable to book a professional e-waste collection with an experienced and renowned waste removal company.
As described in this article, disposing of and recycling e-waste is not an easy task and if you do not want to encounter hefty fines for dumping e-waste in the wrong places or want to avoid the stress of transporting it, then you should consider investing in professional waste collection services near you.