Why Recycling Your Old Laptop Is Important?

In a fast-moving world such as technology, computers become outdated quickly and the need to dispose of them properly becomes more and more important. Figures from United Nations show that around 50 million metric tonnes of electrical waste is accumulated around the world every year.

Regardless of how much landfill space they can take up, computers contain hazardous chemicals such as lead oxide, mercury, nickel, zinc and cadmium. If these toxins and other heavy metals end up in landfill rather than a recycling centre, they can cause soil and water pollution and endanger wildlife. For example, cadmium can damage organisms in the soil which then affects the breakdown of organic matter. The substance has also been known to kill fish, which reduces their numbers.

At the same time as being a reason to produce laptops using less hazardous materials, it is a big reason to make sure your laptop is disposed of correctly when no longer needed.

What is computer recycling?

Laptop recycling is the process of either refurbishing a unwanted device or harvesting it for parts that can be of use elsewhere. Unwanted items can either be sent to a refurbishing business, a specialist recycling service or, if still in good working order, donated to schools and clubs in your area. Recycling can be as simple as donating to friends and family.

If the laptop is nearing the end of its life, be careful when donating to charity – it can prove a headache if they are left with, and have to dispose of, a non-functioning laptop.

At a recycling facility, the computer will be taken apart and its metals and plastics recycled where possible. Harmful materials will then be disposed of in the correct manner.

Recommended for you: Why Computers Recycling In Areas Should Be Done?

What are the benefits of recycling?

As mentioned earlier, proper disposal of unwanted electrical items avoids them unnecessarily clogging up landfill space and protects the environment. If you are donating you can also allow other people to buy laptops at an affordable price.

Many refurbishing companies give their revamped computers to school systems, correctional facilities and charity programs which allows the less fortunate to learn how to use them to prepare for their future.

What’s in my laptop?

There are some very valuable things that go into making a laptop; engineered plastics, steel, copper, aluminium and precious metals like gold, platinum and palladium. The recycling process attempts to recover these for use elsewhere once the device has reached the end of its life. In 2009, only an estimated 38 per cent of computers thrown away were recycled properly. The remainder end up in landfills where these materials are no longer available for reuse in the manufacturing of new products.

Often, the company you buy your laptop from will offer a free return service – ask before you buy. If this is not an option, your local council may run a scheme. For more details, go to the Environment Agency Website or contact your local authority. Whichever method you choose, make sure all of your personal data has been wiped from the machine before you give it away.

Image Credit: Flickr.

Author Bio:

Guest post contributed by Simon Jones. A technology geek who loves to give hints & tips when it comes to technology, not just using it, but also how to dispose of it correctly when the time comes, to help the environment. Simon also has a large knowledge of Business Software - BT Business Direct and helps people in business find the right software for their needs.

Read more

Why Computers Recycling In Areas Should Be Done

The reality today is that electronic wastage is becoming rampant. With the rising number of products being manufactured, you can also expect a boom in the products that accumulate as trash once they are out of trend. Computers recycling or healthy computing are being promoted heavily because people have to act now before everything is too late.

Citizens do represent something, whether it is an idea or a belief. However, it seems that environmental responsibilities are hard to commit to for some whose hearts are not in the campaign itself. With something as basic as reducing, reusing and recycling, others fail to meet these demands thus they fail to see how it will impact the world.

The thing about gadgets is that they can easily become obsolete when updates are continually introduced to the market. When units are left to rot and they pile up in landfills, they do not really go away on their own. This wastage should be avoided by the consumers themselves.

Recommended for You: Why Recycling Your Old Laptop Is Important?

On the end of the consumers, they become too curious enough that they buy without thinking twice about the rest of the things that they have. If there is an infectious trend in buying gadgets, do not give in. You are not only acknowledging the passing fancy, you are also contributing to the amount of waste that could cause serious problems.

Although gadgets are very innovative and useful nowadays, still, you can settle with what you currently have. It is not as important just because you want to maintain this certain status level. You have to be mindful of the depleting resources, the landfills being filled to the brim and the toxicity that some materials release to the environment.

Quite frankly, the improper disposal of electronic waste is very dangerous to humans and to the environment. Moreover, the wastage itself is quite a shame because the redeeming factor is hard to come by given its complexity. What could have been a space for more useful waste is now taken up by the said devices.

The thing about buying too many things given a short span of time is that you can easily neglect what you have. As a result, you also manage to pile these unused items on top of one another as they become one big mound of trash. What is even worse is if majority of the pile are electronic gadgets and devices that can be recycled instead.

Utilization is an advantageous activity that can be used as an initiative to maintain sustainable development. Gadget users must be educated that there are toxic components with those little machines that run their unit. If ready to be disposed, experts need to take out any harmful component to ensure that further disposal will already be safe.

Computers recycling are not just about handling your electronic gadgets. The bigger issue is about knowing how to time your purchases and weighing the necessity of each. If you learn to become a responsible buyer, then eventually, you can contribute to the wellness of the environment.

Author Bio:

Kamal Ahmad Is young entrepreneur who love to write on tech gadget. And believe on green technology, he has the view that its every person’s responsibility to take part in saving earth by promoting green tech. He blogs on http://yourpcuniverse.com and tweets @YourPcUniverse

Read more