Reduce E-Waste

Action: Use electronic devices for as long as possible, think long-term when making purchasing decisions, purchase from responsible

What is E-Waste? Why is e-waste so bad and why does it matter more than, say, regular trash?

E-Waste, or electronic waste, refers to all materials that are electrical and electronic equipment and its parts that have been thrown away as waste. It is only 2-3% of the solid waste in the US, but accounts for about 70% of the hazardous waste in landfills.

How much e-waste is there? Or how much e-waste does the US produce each year? Are there any trends?

E-waste has increased over 20% from 2015-2019 (Statista)
US e-waste per capita is 21kg (Statista)
E-waste is also a cybersecurity problem (IEEE)

Here’s a great page with some answers!

Ways to manage e-waste:

Buy new gadgets only when you need to. Repair or upgrade devices.
1. Repurpose devices for different uses (for example, designers and admin assistants have different tech needs)
Advocate:
1. Join the Repair Association (repair.org), a group that advocates for “repair-friendly policies, regulations, statutes, and standards at the national, state, and local levels”
2. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws (https://time.com/5594380/world-electronic-waste-problem/ )
Donate old tech
1. https://eponline.com/Articles/2020/09/30/How-Businesses-Can-Handle-E-Waste.aspx?Page=1
Recycle e-waste.
1. https://www.rubicon.com/blog/electronic-waste-problem/#electronic-recycling-solutions
2. Check with manufacturers – https://blog.idrenvironmental.com/4-ways-to-improve-your-companys-electronic-waste-management
  1. Apple trade-ins: https://www.apple.com/recycling/nationalservices/
  2. Microsoft: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/legal/compliance/recycling
3. Google “Where do I recycle e waste?” Recyclers with the E-Steward label on their websites have been certified to meet high standards.
4. Before you recycle your device, seal up any broken parts in separate containers to prevent hazardous materials from leaking. If you’re handling something that’s broken, make sure you’re wearing a mask and gloves before handling.
Learn more: “IT Asset Management” or “IT Lifecycle Management” “it asset disposal management” “circular IT” https://www.cio.com/article/217546/it-asset-management-itam.html
1. https://www.simslifecycle.com/business/itad/
2. https://www.simslifecycle.com/resources/tip-sheet-itad/