Electronic Waste Facilities

What factors should I consider when choosing an electronic waste facility?

There's a three point test when you're choosing an electronic waste recycling facility that you should look at: where their electronic waste comes from, are they engaging in appropriate methodologies of recycling the electronics underneath their roof, and the last, but not least, factors where their commodities go to, who their downstream vendors are, where their glass, metals, and plastics go to. Also, are they truly going for reuse into new products?

What types of electronic equipment can be recycled?

All types of electronic waste can be recycled. That's the exciting news. Your I Phone, cell phone, I Pod, laptop, television set, fax machine, and even your microwave and your refrigerator can all be recycled. They are mainly made up of plastics, metals, and glass. All those commodities can be recycled, and go back to new products, and be reused. Reuse is the essence of great recycling practices.

Can I recycle my plasma screen?

All plasma screens and new technologies are also recyclable. Your old cell phone is recyclable as your new cell phone. Your old television set is as recyclable as your new flat screen plasma or DVD is. Everything electronic is recyclable. As the manufacturers come up with new methodologies in creation. The recyclers learn new methodologies in de-manufacturing, and appropriately we can de-manufacture anything the manufacturers create, and get the commodities back to the recyclers and the manufacturers for future reuse over, and over again.

Which types of electronic equipment are the most difficult to recycle?

All types of electronic waste in equipment is recyclable. But you have different subsets. Refrigerators and freezers and microwave ovens should be done in a separate section form your Televisions and your computers. So it is important that you create methodologies that fit the different types of electronic waste. You can not just be throwing a refrigerator on a de-manufacturing line with a computer and expect to come up with the right results. So it is important for the recyclers to subset out their different types of products and de-manufacture everything in their own subset. That is what makes for great recycling processes.

How much does it cost me to use an e-waste facility?

In California, there is no cost for recycling electronic waste if it's part of the covered waste module. All electronics, such as televisions and computers are part of covered electronic waste in the state of California, so there is no cost. There is a small incremental fee in the state of California for fax machines and printers and copiers and things of that such. In other states it varies via jurisdiction, but we don't have a choice. The fees are usually very reasonable. We cannot afford to continue to further liquidate the environment by inappropriately disposing electronic waste. Pay the fee and save the E.

What type of paperwork do I need to fill out when recycling my e-waste?

In California, the paperwork is minimal. You give your name and address and telephone number and that's all you need to fill out. Other states and jurisdictions it varies and I can't speak exactly to it but the approved recycler/collector in that jurisdiction will make you aware of it and usually it's very, very simple to recycle your electronic waste.

Will e-waste recycling facilities pick up my e-waste?

Electronic waste recycling facilities will, if they are customer oriented, pick up your electronic waste. The great ones do. Others do not, but there are other collectors that will. There's other collectors such as 1-800.junk, or other great collection services that will pick up your electronic waste and bring it to approved recyclers. There is no excuse not to get rid of your electronic waste in an appropriate, legal, and environmentally safe way.

What happens to my electronic equipment at an e-waste facility?

Your electronic waste equipment basically gets demanufactured at an electronic waste facility. It is broken down into its commodity form. It is broken down into its crushed glass, plastics, your ABS plastics and your metals. And the metals have subsets such has gold, silver, aluminum, copper and stainless steel and all those commodities can be reused. And reuse is the essence of recycling.