What do you need to know about recycling e-scrap?

Electronics that are obsolete, broken, and destined for recycling or disposal are sometimes called "e-scrap" or "e-waste." In 2007, such consumer electronics – including TVs, computers, peripherals, audio equipment, and phones – totaled about 2.5 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW), or about 1 percent of the overall MSW stream, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This percentage may seem small and inconsequential, but the quantity of electronic waste has been growing in recent years.

These products can be safely landfilled in a modern landfill. However, as there are many chemical and mineral elements in most e-scrap, some jurisdictions have moved to restrict electronics such as television sets from being discarded in landfills.

Certainly, from a resource conservation standpoint, it is preferable to recycle electronics. A circuit board contains copper, gold, silver, platinum and palladium, as well as lead. If recycled properly, e-scrap can be a valuable source of secondary raw materials. Unfortunately, in 2007, only about 18 percent (414,000 tons) of e-scrap was collected for recycling. Cell phones were recycled at a rate only 10 percent. So there is room for improvement in this area.

Solid waste management companies are working with state and federal government agencies and electronics manufacturers and retailers to provide more opportunities to people to reuse and recycle their electronic equipment. As a result, consumers typically have a number of options available to them to reuse and recycle these products.

Many solid waste companies schedule periodic special curb-side pick up or local drop-off events for electronic equipment. Ask your local waste collector if they make such opportunities available in your area. Here are some websites that may provide more information about local collection or drop-off sites for electronic waste:

• U.S. EPA eCycling Program
• Consumer Electronics Association Recycling Guide
• Electronic Industries Alliance e-Cycling Central
• List of Waste Management's Recycle America eWaste Centers
• GoodCleanTech Electronics Recycling Superguide
• www.earth911.com

In addition, many computer, TV and audio equipment manufacturers, and electronics retailers offer some kind of take back program or sponsor recycling events.

The following consumer product manufacturers offer a variety of electronics recycling programs for the products that they sell:
		WM partnership
	Call (800) 255-3700 for info.
		WM partnership

 

The following retailers offer a variety of electronics recycling programs for the products that they sell:

 

For people who don't have access to one of these drop-off sites or participating retailer, Waste Management has a national mail-in program, where consumers can order home-recycling "kits" for computer equipment, audio equipment, televisions and DVD players, telephones and fax machines, video games and other electronic toys and other small appliances. Get more information about this mail-in program.

Learn more about NSWMA's advocacy positions regarding electronic scrap.

Want to learn more?

• Click here to learn about disposing of fluorescent bulbs.
• Click here to learn about the solid waste management process.
• Click here to learn more about how the solid waste industry facilitates recycling.