Computer recycling, what to do, and what not to do

• August 22, 2022
• jennifer
• Computer Recycling

With the advent of an era of technology, we have advanced a lot in many aspects of our civilization. However, everything good comes with a downside to it; technology comes with e-waste (addiction too, but e-waste has an environmental impact). Computers are huge sources of e-waste generated throughout the world; the best way to handle this is to recycle them properly.

This article will highlight the best ways to recycle your computer, the do’s and don’ts so that you know. Have fun recycling, save the environment, and in turn save yourself.

Do give it to vendors

There are many vendors available in the market that make sure your computer lies in safe hands. They recycle e-waste by removing all the heavy metals from it and separating the plastics and the metallic components. They can reuse those chips in the new computers they make and use those extracted heavy metals in other equipment. This way, it benefits both parties, the vendor and you, and the environment to a great extent. None of the components that harm the soil seep into the soil, and the pollutants remain in their place.

Nowadays, some vendors buy old articles off your hands and provide you with new pieces of technology. This is a very good offer as it takes care of a part of your budget and is also easy on the environment. You always need to make sure that your e-waste is treated in safe hands and is disposed of safely.

Don’t dump it

Never dump e-waste! Dumping e-waste is one of the cardinal sins of the modern world. E-waste needs to be treated safely via the right methods. If that is not done, the environment can be seriously harmed. E-waste contains harmful substances like heavy metals that seep into the soil and make the land barren. There needs to be no explanation as to how bad that is for society. Another thing that may happen in dumps is the occurrence of a fire.

When such fires occur, these heavy metals and plastics combust to form compounds that are harmful and carcinogenic. These particles float around in the air, and we breathe them in casually. E-waste has been one of the major causative agents of cancer in recent years. As a consumer, you need to remain aware and take necessary precautions against it.

Do segregate your waste

Segregation of waste is very important. You cannot mix your organic waste or medical waste with your e-waste. This is a sustainable way to make sure that your e-waste is recycled properly, it is the first step towards healthy waste disposal practices. Make sure that your computers, mobile phones, CDs, and floppy disks are kept separate from organic waste. This way, you will be making sure that it goes into safe hands, more precisely, the right hands to deal with such equipment.

Segregation of waste should be one of your priorities, no matter what kind of waste you are dealing with. For non-biodegradable waste like plastics and metals, recycling or reusing them would be the best option. If something is recyclable, i.e., a new product can be made out of the constituents of the old product, it should be kept separate and should be given to the appropriate vendors.

Don’t cut costs

Never compromise with your safety. If you are not recycling e-waste because you want to cut down on costs, it is helping no one. Improper dealing of e-waste causes a ton of ailments that only take much more money to treat. You need to make sure that you are giving your money to the right person to recycle your e-waste so that they safely dispose of your computer and recycle its parts.

Before you sell off your computer to a vendor or give it out for charity, always remember to remove all the data from it. If there is any confidential information on your computer, it might get leaked if you don't delete the data that was previously present on it. Hence, you need to be very careful before performing any such practice.

In conclusion, recycling your e-waste is very important; recycling your computers makes sure that you can live a healthier future. So make sure that you take the right steps and prevent others from taking the wrong ones