What Precious Metal are in Your Old Electronics?
We all know our electronics are valuable. Our tech products are often very expensive, and most of us take precautions to protect them from any damage. While we might appreciate having nice electronics, many of us don’t understand exactly how valuable they are.
On the outside, all we can see of our electronics is glass, plastic, and common types of metal. None of this comes off as being extremely important or valuable. However, inside your devices, you can find many precious materials. Knowing this now, you might be wondering what precious metals are in electronics and are old electronics worth anything.
Understanding what materials are used in your electronics is important to help people realize the need for them to be recycled responsibly. Keep reading to learn more about the most used metal in electronics and how we should be recycling precious metals from electronics.
Commonly Found Precious Metals in Electronics
Precious metals are rare, naturally occurring metals with a high economic value. We normally think of precious metals used in jewelry, such as gold and silver, because they are expensive luxury items.
If they are so rare and valuable, then why are they being used in electronics around the world?
The simple answer is precious metals are often excellent conductors of electricity. Each type of precious metal used in electronics has its own value, and the reason that type of metal is chosen is its performance over other metals.
Let’s take a look at the precious metals we can often find in electronics and why they are used.
Gold
Most people associate gold with being an extremely expensive and valuable metal, and it isn’t something you’d think about being in your electronics. However, gold is found in many devices we use today, like cell phones and laptops. Gold is often used in coatings for touch-sensitive display screens, platings for semiconductors, and in connectors on motherboards.
Only a small amount of gold is used in most devices, but when you consider the huge number of devices out there, it quickly adds up.
Silver
Nearly every electronic today is bound to contain silver. This precious metal is affordable compared to other metals and is extremely conductive, making it the perfect choice for many electronics. It’s usually found around solders, contacts, relays, and switches. Silver paste is also used in cell phones, tablets, and microwaves.
Copper
Copper is used in many electronics, from small devices to large appliances. You can find copper in motherboards and wiring. The major reason that copper is used in so many electronics is its conductivity.
Other Metals in Electronics
Besides the precious metals in electronics mentioned above, modern electronics contain many other metals and materials. Here are two of the most common and their causes for concern.
Lithium
Lithium isn’t a metal that most people think of often, but you likely use it daily. You can find lithium in most rechargeable batteries. Today, lithium is used in batteries of all sizes, from cell phone batteries to electric car batteries.
Lithium-ion batteries also contain other metals, such as cobalt, nickel, and manganese, which are very toxic to the environment when thrown away in a landfill.
Lead
Of course, everyone knows the dangers that lead can have in certain conditions. In well-maintained electronics, lead doesn’t pose much of a threat. Lead only becomes a serious concern when electronics are disposed of improperly.
If electronics are exposed to the elements, they can leak harmful toxins into the soil, so services like cell phone recycling are extremely important.
The Importance of Recycling Precious Metals from Electronics
If you had a small piece of precious metal, you probably wouldn’t throw it in the trash. Now that you know how valuable the materials in your phone are, you know that it’s extremely important for them to be recycled.
These precious metals used in electronics are non-renewable resources. This means we only have limited quantities of these metals, and once they’re gone, we won’t be able to get them back.
Your electronics are filled with valuable metals, and tossing them in the garbage is extremely wasteful and dangerous for the environment, not to mention illegal in many states. By using resources like a computer recycling program, you know that none of the precious metals in your devices are going to waste or polluting the planet.
Recycle Precious Metal from Old Electronics with Newtech
Landfills are already filled with old electronics that contain precious metals, but you can help prevent more from ending up there. When you contact a certified e-waste company like Newtech for technology disposal, we recycle precious metals from electronics and ensure nothing ends up in a landfill.
Are you a business looking to recycle old electronics responsibly? Contact Newtech Recycling to learn more about the recycling programs we offer. We currently serve New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and New York.
The Biggest Problem With E-Waste? The Unknown
Recycling is not a new concept for us today. We’ve been recycling plastic for decades, and paper even longer than that. The need for recycling programs like these grew as we used more and more single-use items. As these types of recycling programs have been around for a while, we’ve had time to understand the impact these products have when they end up in landfills. One newer type of recycling that people aren’t as familiar with is electronics recycling. While this service is available, and extremely important it isn’t widely used, and the majority of electronics still end up being thrown in landfills.
We’re aware of the negative environmental impact of e-waste, but there’s still a lot to learn. The problem with e-waste that we should all be concerned about is not knowing what can happen in the future.
The Effect of E-Waste on Our Health
Many of us don’t understand how harmful landfills with electronics can be because we don’t have to look at them. Much of our waste ends up getting transported to other countries, so we haven’t seen many of the effects on our own lives, and some don’t understand the severity of the issues it causes. Toxins from e-waste can cause serious health issues when it seeps into the soil and nearby water supplies, in addition to toxins released into the air from burning. We might not realize that this is an issue as we’re far removed from it, but eventually, e-waste will cause health effects for everyone. Toxins from e-waste will spread to wildlife and crops that people around the world rely on for food. This won’t only affect our health, but it can negatively impact future generations as well.
E-Waste Can Continue to Grow
E-waste is already a huge problem, but it isn’t likely to end anytime soon. Despite more and more e-waste recycling programs starting up, electronics continue to end up in landfills. As electronics continue to be a huge part of our society and people replace their devices more often, e-waste will continue to grow. With millions of tons of e-waste being thrown away each year, this problem will only grow.
Prevent E-Waste from Occurring
What we don’t know about e-waste can be the most anxiety-provoking part. We’ve been seeing the dangers of e-waste for years now, but it’s only the beginning. As e-waste becomes a more prevalent problem, our lives can become seriously impacted by it. It can be difficult to know all of the damage that the extreme amount of e-waste existing today will have, especially as it grows. While many of us have used electronics for years, they’re still fairly new, and we haven’t seen many of the long-term effects start to take place. The only way to mitigate some of the effects of e-waste is to use e-waste recycling programs. By recycling your old electronics, you can prevent more e-waste from ending up in landfills. Not knowing what will happen in the future can be terrifying, but you can do your part to help make it better for us and the generations to come.
Contact us to learn more about how Newtech Recycling can help you recycle your old electronics.
The Effects of E-Waste in Water
It’s exciting to get upgrades! Everyone always seems to want the latest and greatest model, addition, version…of their favorite electronic device. Because of this, the lifespan of these devices is diminishing, leading to a surge in electronic waste, commonly known as e-waste. This growing concern impacts not only landfills but also the purity of our water bodies. At NewTech Recycling, we understand the critical importance of the proper disposal of e-waste, ensuring that hazardous materials are not leached into our environment. Our commitment to e-waste recycling services is not just about sustainability; it's about protecting our water for future generations. Join us as we explore the journey of e-waste to water bodies, its detrimental effects, and how responsible recycling practices can make a significant difference.
Understanding e-Waste
E-waste encompasses a broad range of discarded electronic devices, from smartphones and computers to refrigerators and LED bulbs. These items, rich in metals and other materials, become e-waste when no longer functional or desirable. The challenge with e-waste lies not only in its volume but in its composition. Many electronics contain hazardous substances like lead, mercury, and cadmium, which can pose significant risks when not disposed of properly. At NewTech Recycling, our e-waste recycling process is designed to manage these risks, transforming potential environmental hazards into opportunities for resource recovery and reuse.
e-Waste's Journey to Water Bodies
The path of improperly disposed e-waste to water bodies is a complex one, involving several stages and actors. Often, e-waste is initially dumped in landfills, where it may be exposed to natural elements or inadequate containment measures. Over time, rainwater leaches toxic chemicals from this waste, carrying them into the groundwater, rivers, and eventually oceans. Illegal dumping exacerbates the issue, with e-waste often directly abandoned in or near waterways. This not only pollutes the water but disrupts aquatic ecosystems and the communities relying on these water sources. Understanding this journey underscores the urgency of adopting proper e-waste disposal and recycling practices to safeguard our water resources.
Impact on Water Quality and Ecosystems
The infiltration of e-waste into our water systems introduces a host of toxic substances, including heavy metals such as mercury, lead, and cadmium, alongside a variety of chemicals from plastics and coatings. These contaminants pose severe risks to water quality, directly affecting aquatic ecosystems. Heavy metals can accumulate in the food chain, leading to bioaccumulation in fish, which not only endangers wildlife but also threatens human health through the consumption of contaminated seafood. Furthermore, the chemical runoff from e-waste disrupts the delicate balance of aquatic ecosystems, leading to decreased biodiversity and the alteration of habitats. Our efforts in e-waste recycling services at NewTech Recycling aim to curb the release of these hazardous substances, demonstrating our role in preserving natural water resources and supporting the health of aquatic ecosystems.
Human Health Implications
The repercussions of e-waste contamination in water extend significantly to human health. Communities relying on contaminated water sources may suffer from a range of health issues, including kidney damage, neurological disorders, and developmental problems in children, all linked to the toxic substances leached from improperly disposed of electronics. The importance of clean, uncontaminated water cannot be overstated, not only for drinking but also for agriculture and everyday hygiene. Ensuring the proper disposal of e-waste is a critical step towards safeguarding public health, highlighting the indispensable service provided by facilities like NewTech Recycling in mitigating these risks.
The Role of Proper Disposal and Recycling
Addressing the challenges posed by e-waste requires a comprehensive approach to disposal and recycling. Proper e-waste disposal involves separating hazardous materials from recyclable components, ensuring that toxins are not released into the environment. Through professional e-waste recycling services, materials such as metals, plastics, and glass can be safely recovered and repurposed, reducing the need for new raw materials and decreasing the environmental footprint of new products. At NewTech Recycling, our commitment to advanced recycling processes not only aids in preventing water pollution but also contributes to a circular economy, where the value of electronic materials is maximized. By choosing responsible recycling paths, individuals and businesses can play a pivotal role in protecting our water resources and promoting environmental sustainability.
Conclusion
The journey from awareness to action in the proper disposal of e-waste is crucial for the health of our planet and its inhabitants. As we've explored, the consequences of negligence are far-reaching, affecting water quality, ecosystems, and human health. However, through informed decisions and the support of professional e-waste recycling services like those offered by NewTech Recycling, we can mitigate these impacts. We invite you to join us in this vital effort to protect our water by responsibly recycling your electronic waste. Together, we can forge a path towards a cleaner, safer environment for future generations. Visit New Tech Recycling to learn more about how you can contribute to the solution
How E-Waste is Harming Our World
A lot of innovation and engineering know-how goes into the technology that makes the world go 'round, such as our computers, mobile phones, TVs, printers, and medical testing equipment. A lot of other things go into them, too. Maybe you have heard of some of them: lead, mercury, cadmium, and chromium.
Newtech Recycling knows how dangerous electronic waste, or e-waste, can be. Improperly disposed tech creates 50 million metric tons of e-waste environmental pollution annually. At Newtech Recycling, we aim to provide safe, easy, and affordable solutions to help people rid themselves of their unwanted devices without contributing to the ongoing e-waste crisis.
At our New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection-approved facilities, our recycling e-waste process uses specialized machinery to break down electronic devices into parts that can be reused for manufacturing new technology. This not only provides valuable industry resources but also helps keep toxic substances out of landfills, which in turn helps keep them out of our soil, air, water, and bodies.
Just how steep is the global cost of irresponsibly discarded electronics? You might be surprised by the answer to that question. Read on to learn more about how e-waste is harming our world.
The Monetary Cost of E-Waste
Let's start with the monetary cost of e-waste, which, while arguably its least horrifying byproduct, is no less shocking. Studies show that Americans throw away more than $55 billion worth of valuable tech components yearly, and that's because many electronics contain precious metals in addition to toxic materials.
For example, due to its utility as an electrical conductor, an estimated 7% of the world's gold is found in discarded e-waste. Conversely, e-waste recycling can recover 75 pounds of gold from just one million cell phones, in addition to 772 pounds of silver and 35,000 pounds of copper. That's a lot of money that would otherwise be rotting away in our garbage dumps for no good reason.
The Environmental Cost of E-Waste
How does e-waste impact the environment? On the ground, the heavy metals in many tech devices sink into the soil and take decades to deteriorate. They are absorbed by plants that either die off or become poisonous to the animals who eat them. When submerged in water, contaminants dissolve and trigger acidification, disrupting fragile marine ecosystems and rendering fresh water undrinkable.
Finally, in the air, toxic particles released by decaying e-waste can travel thousands of miles on currents of wind, spreading the pollution far beyond the immediate area. In other words, no "localized" e-waste pollution exists, and every improperly discarded device has far-reaching consequences.
The Health Cost of E-Waste
In China, there is a town called Guiyu which, despite its small size, has become one the most extensive dumping grounds for discarded technology worldwide. Thanks to cheap local labor and a lack of regulatory e-waste laws, approximately 100 truckloads of broken computers, smartphones, tablets, televisions, copy machines, and other devices were being imported into Guiyu daily.
Soon, the soil could no longer support crops, and the air became dark with smog and smoke. Many residents developed severe respiratory, digestive, and neurological illnesses, including cancer. Roughly 80% of all area children suffered from lead poisoning, and miscarriage rates skyrocketed. While China has recently made efforts to reverse the devastation of Guiyu, it remains a sobering warning of how toxic e-waste is.
Learn How to Recycle E-Waste at Newtech
Every year brings a new must-have phone, TV set, or computer. With discarded electronics posing a significant threat to the world in so many ways, we all need to do what we can to push back against this growing crisis. It's not just our economy and environment at stake, it's also our lives.
That's why Newtech Recycling offers secure e-waste disposal services in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. We aim to recover and reuse 99% of all materials that enter our facilities. That's why Newtech Recycling is recognized by the EPA and certified under the ISO 14001 international standard and the electronic recycling industry's leading certification, the R2:2013 standard.
Contact Newtech Recycling to start recycling e-waste today!
How to Make Your Smartphone Last Longer
If you’re like most people, you probably spend a good amount of time on your phone. Whether it’s for work, talking to friends, or just scrolling through apps in your free time, we’re all deeply connected to our smartphones. Smartphones have come a long way in a short amount of time, and we all know how much they’re worth. Most phones are expensive and made with nonrenewable resources, so everyone must take good care of them. It might seem like there’s no way to lengthen a phone’s lifespan, but it is possible.
Follow these tips to make your smartphone last longer.
Repair, Don’t Replace
When something breaks, many of us have a habit of just getting it replaced, rather than going to the effort of fixing it. While sometimes a phone might be broken beyond repair, this isn’t always the case. If you’ve dropped your phone or it’s having problems, you could be able to fix it still. Getting rid of slightly damaged phones that can be fixed is incredibly wasteful. By taking your phone to a repair shop, you can help make it last longer and reduce the number of smartphones being wasted. For example, David Bakke with National Air Warehouse told us "Batteries do break down over time and replacing them is typically not that expensive." Many times people having issues with their phone battery just chuck it up as a loss. They then ho out and spend hundreds on a new phone when all they needed was a new battery!
Use a Screen Protector
Rorie Devine, CEO and Founder of *GRO.TEAM told us that his #1 tip to making a phone last longer is using a screen protector. "Always ensure to use screen protectors and covers to save it from breaking after falling on the ground." Many times replacing a screen can be very costly and at that point you may just be better off getting a whole new phone. Most people with smartphones have experienced a cracked screen before. Smartphone screens can crack extremely easily, it often feels like you don’t have to do anything at all to crack them. A serious crack in your screen can immediately ruin your phone, but even a minor crack can damage the phone over time. Not only do cracks cause damage, but they can also make it difficult for you to see or use your phone. It can seem hard to prevent this from happening, but it’s simple if you use a screen protector. Using a screen protector is an inexpensive way of keeping your phone safe, and you can easily apply one yourself.
Invest in a Good Case
In addition to getting a screen protector, you should also buy a sturdy case for your phone. Many of us have a case on our phones, but sometimes this is purely for aesthetic reasons and not to keep them safe. There are many phone cases available that look nice, but will also be effective at keeping your phone protected if it falls or faces any other type of damage. Some phone cases will even keep your phone safe from water damage if you accidentally spill something or drop it in water. This is one of the best things you can do to help protect your phone from potential damage, which is often just a part of life with a smartphone. Majid Fareed from FJackets told us that the best thing you can do for your smart phone is invest in a quality, protective case. "Buy Accessories to Protect your Phone! Most phones break because they have a huge glass screen with little bezels whenever people their phone screen breaks and screen repair costs around 80% of smartphone price."
Charge Your Battery Correctly
We’re all guilty of letting our phone battery drop almost all the way down before we plug it into the charger. This can seem harmless, but it can actually cause your phone to die before its time. Letting your phone get to a lower battery percentage, like 1%, and then charging it can make your battery less effective over time, and eventually, you could need to replace the phone because of this. Another bad charging practice is charging your phone longer than it actually needs. Like letting your phone battery get too low, this can cause stress on your battery and impact its ability to stay charged. Once your phone is charged, there’s no reason to keep it plugged in. Many people recommended keeping your phone battery charged anywhere from 40% to 80% most of the time to keep your battery working properly. Nayan Malpani with aTrendHub also told us to "Always charge the phone with the company's charger and also do not give it to others." This seems like a simple ask, but using generic or low quality cables to charge your smart phone can hurt it's battery life in the long run.
Recycle Your Phone When It’s Unusable
Of course, even the best care can’t prevent your phone from eventually getting too old or broken to use anymore. After you’ve put in the effort of being responsible while you’ve owned the phone, you want to continue that once your phone is no longer usable. When your phone has reached the end of its life, make sure that it gets recycled properly. This prevents harmful toxins from ending up in landfills and allows expensive phone parts to be reused in future devices. If your phone still works, but you want to treat yourself to an upgrade, see about donating it to someone who could benefit from a used smartphone.
Newtech Recycling can help make sure your old devices are recycled responsibly. If you have old phones you need to get rid of, contact us to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions: More on Recycling
You already know that you need to recycle items like glass and plastic. This is something you probably already do every day without even thinking much about it. Most of us are taught the importance of recycling in school and as we grow up, so there aren’t many questions regarding how it works or why we do it. However, these aren’t the only items in our lives that need to be recycled. E-waste recycling is extremely important, but not many people know much about it. We all rely heavily on tech products each day, so we all have a responsibility to recycle them properly.
Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding e-waste recycling.
What Counts as E-Waste?
You’d be surprised at how much potential e-waste you have in your home. Nearly all of your electronics can be e-waste. Computers in your home and office, regardless of whether they’re desktop computers or laptops, all count as e-waste. You probably have several different phones at home, too, like smartphones and landlines included in this. Printers and machines are also counted as e-waste. Your TV is also considered e-waste and needs to be recycled. In an office space, you can find even more e-waste.
Where Can You Recycle Old Electronics?
Most of us are used to having convenient recycling programs where our waste is picked up right at our house. This makes it extremely easy to do the right thing, but you’ll have to do a bit more work to recycle your unwanted tech items. To recycle old electronics, you’ll need to either drop them off at an e-waste recycling center or schedule a pick-up if needed. Fortunately, this isn’t really much of a hassle, as you won’t be getting rid of old electronics as frequently as other recyclables.
What Should You Do With Your Data?
Whether it’s a personal or work device, your computers, phones, and tablets have a lot of important information stored on them. Before you get rid of these items, you need to be sure your data isn’t going to be compromised. Deleting them yourself isn’t enough to guarantee that your information is safe. To be as safe as possible, you should have your data professionally wiped from your devices. Just be sure that before you do this, all of your data is backed up somewhere else.
What Do Recycled Electronics Get Used For?
You might not realize how many materials are used in your electronics, some of which are very limited resources. In many cases, old electronic parts, like batteries, will be used to make new electronics in the future. However, the materials sourced from recycled electronics can be used to make a variety of things, not just other electronics. New products unrelated to technology can be made with glass, plastic, gold, and more found in so many electronics today. Taking these materials from unwanted electronics keeps them from being wasted and helps prevent us from having to source new materials and using up what’s available to us.
What Happens to Electronics That Aren’t Recycled?
If you aren’t very familiar with e-waste recycling, you might not understand why it’s so important. Materials can be repurposed, but does anything bad happen if you toss electronics in with regular trash? E-waste actually has detrimental effects on our environment. When these products end up in landfills and are exposed to the elements, they begin to leak harmful toxins into the soil. Once these toxins are in the soil, they can seep into nearby water sources, which can eventually impact all of us. Recycling these items protects us and our environment, but that’s not the only reason you should do it. Many states have passed laws that require you to recycle your old electronics as we learn more about how important this issue is.
Learn More About Recycling Your Electronics
E-waste in landfills is a huge problem worldwide that everyone needs to learn about and make efforts to prevent. This is still a new topic for many people, so it’s important to continue to learn about it. At Newtech Recycling, we can help with many of your e-waste recycling needs to ensure everything is properly recycled.
If you have electronics that you need to recycle, contact us today to learn how.
How to Donate or Recycle Old Office Equipment
Nothing lasts forever. That’s as true for computers, photocopiers, and other office equipment as it is for anything else. At Newtech Recycling, we know that getting rid of a broken desktop computer or an obsolete fax machine isn’t as easy as throwing away a soda can.
Electronics contain all kinds of toxic substances, such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and chromium. With more than 50 million metric tons of electronic waste (or e-waste) thrown out each year, it’s, unfortunately, no surprise that such dangerous materials account for 70% of all landfill soil pollution.
Still, not everyone knows where to recycle old technology. And because office equipment takes up so much space, it’s easy to feel pressured to dispose of it as quickly as possible. But quick doesn’t have to mean careless. So, What do you do with your old office technology? For outdated electronics that are still useful, you can donate or sell your tired tech. For less salvageable items, proper disposal is not only important; it’s required by law.
Here is a helpful guide to assist you in proper office equipment disposal practices so you can get rid of your unwanted office equipment without contributing to e-waste environmental pollution.
1. Erase Personal Information Before You Recycle Office Equipment
Before donating or recycling any IT equipment, it’s important to protect yourself. Think all your sensitive personal information is safe just because you put it into the Recycle Bin? Think again. Passwords, photos, audio files, spreadsheets, banking information, and much more can live on your hard drive long after being deleted.
Before you throw away a potential treasure trove of personal data, it’s important to ensure your information is fully expunged. Backup important documents on a separate hard drive first. Then, delete everything stored on your computer, including everything in the Recycle Bin. Next, sign out of and delete any active logins, deactivate Bluetooth device pairings, and erase your online history and cookies. When finished, perform a complete factory reset to transform your drive back into the same blank slate it was when you bought it.
Even then, with enough work, a skilled hacker could still reconstruct your data. For extra protection, Newtech Recycling’s computer destruction service will expose your disk to an electromagnetic pulse, rendering it permanently incapable of recording information. Afterward, we put the whole thing through an industrial shredder, ensuring that your security will never be threatened.
2. Donate Working Equipment to Charities
Patrick O’Kane with Media Works shared with us that before looking into office equipment disposal, you should exhaust all options to repurpose it. “Before throwing any equipment away, consider how much usage it could still have. Could you find another use in your business or donate to somebody who may need it? Preventing waste should be your first thought, although sometimes equipment does reach the end of its lifecycle.”
Just because your office needs have outpaced the abilities of your current tech, that doesn’t mean others can’t still find a use for it. Before recycling old copiers, computers, or other IT equipment, consider giving them to someone who needs them instead.
You probably won’t have to look too hard to find a new home for your old electronics. Senior organizations and recreation centers in your local area are a good start, and charity groups and other nonprofits are usually more than happy to take any donations you can provide. If you’re having trouble doing it yourself, there are a number of programs specifically created to help technology donors and seekers find one another. Examples include the World Computer Exchange, Techsoup, Computers with Causes, and The American Cell Phone Drive.
Not only does donating electronics help countless individuals, schools, and communities less fortunate, but most donations are tax deductible. Who said doing good deeds has to go unrewarded?
3. Use a Certified E-Waste Office Equipment Recycling Company
When old office technology is beyond repair, the only option left is to junk it. And considering the highly toxic materials that can be released into the environment through improper e-waste disposal, in many cases, the only safe and legal way to junk old electronics is to recycle them.
Martin Seeley from Mattress Next Day told us they always use a recycling company for proper e-waste disposal. “When disposing of office equipment, trashing should not be an option anymore. Aside from it [being] illegal, it is also harmful to the environment. A good alternative [to] trashing is recycling. Recycling office equipment has a lot of benefits such as environmental protection and tax deduction.”
Still, recycling computers, photocopiers, phones, and other devices is a complicated process. When looking for an office equipment recycling company, choose a local company that has the experience and certification that prove that all e-waste disposal will be handled properly.
Newtech Recycling is an experienced, certified recycling company with a thorough knowledge of e-waste laws and an equally thorough recycling procedure that will turn unwanted electronics into raw materials to be reused to manufacture brand-new products.
At our New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection-approved facility, recycling office equipment separates useful electronic components from waste materials that would be harmful if placed in a landfill. We then separate components by material type (aluminum, copper, glass, plastic, etc.) so they can be reintroduced into the manufacturing industry later. This prevents poisonous substances from seeping into the soil and creates more resources that will be available to help make newer, better versions of the tech you need. Who knows: your next desktop computer might be made from parts of your old one!
Recycle Office Equipment and Corporate E-Waste with Newtech
Newtech Recycling prides itself on being there for our clients who need to dispose of computers, hard drives, cell phones, and other devices safely and responsibly. If you’re looking for help with electronics recycling in NJ, NY, CT, or PA, Newtech Recycling is here to provide you with peace of mind and full assurance that you’re doing your part to preserve the environment for future generations.
Looking to recycle old office equipment? Contact us today to get a quote on your e-waste recycling. Let’s change the world together.
Ten Tips for Donating a Computer
What do you do when that shiny new computer you bought five years ago isn’t so shiny and new anymore? When your technological needs have outpaced the abilities of your current desktop or laptop, obviously the answer is to get a new one. But what do you do with the old one? Your first instinct might be to use Newtech Recycling’s computer disposal service and call it a day.
As much as we love helping clients get rid of their unwanted electronics in a way that both protects their personal data and reduces e-waste environmental pollution, as a hardware recycling company, we know that the best way to reuse old tech isn’t always to break it down for raw materials. Rather, it’s to donate that equipment to other people who can still use it just the way it is. Computers are expensive, after all, and not everyone can afford the latest model. Not everyone needs the latest model, either.
If you’ve ever wondered what to do with old computer monitors, hard drives, routers, printers, or other IT equipment, here are ten tips that will make the process of donating your outdated electronics a whole lot easier.
1. Make Sure It’s Still Functional
When deciding what to do with your old computer and related accessories, the first step is to see what kind of condition it’s in. Are you getting rid of the machine simply because you’ve outgrown it or because it’s not working correctly? If it does have issues, are they hardware or software issues? If the latter, they can probably be fixed with a factory reset and clean reinstall. If not, a broken desktop computer that’s too damaged to function is no use to anyone.
2. Erase All Your Personal Data
Whether you plan to give away or throw away your computer, one of the most important things you should do first is erase any and all personal data stored on the hard drive. This includes passwords, browsing history, cookies, document files, online banking information, and more. If you really want to ensure your data is secure, remove the hard disk completely and let Newtech Recycling’s hard drive destruction service remove every last trace.
3. Recycle What Can’t Be Reused
Not all tech can be reused. When donation isn’t an option, that’s where a computer disposal service such as Newtech Recycling comes in. Because of the toxic materials they contain, discarded electronics are responsible for 70% of landfill soil pollution, and many states have laws requiring a more eco-friendly approach. Newtech Recycling is committed to preserving the environment for future generations. That’s why our on-site equipment carefully breaks down old hardware into raw materials that can be reused in the manufacture of new technology.
4. Gather Software and Accessories
Whenever you donate a piece of electronics hardware, it’s a good idea to try to donate it in as complete a state as possible. That means including any software, accessories, cords, and instruction manuals that came with it. If you’re missing anything essential, make sure to let the recipient know ahead of time.
5. Try Donating Locally First
Often, it doesn’t take much searching to find someone who could make use of the exact same tech you’re looking to unload. Give back to your home community by trying to donate locally first. Chances are that there’s a school, senior center, or recreation facility in your area that would be happy to take your used office computers or personal electronic devices.
6. Nonprofits Always Need Donations
If you’re having trouble finding local groups that need the things that you have, consider donating to a charity or nonprofit instead. If they can’t use your equipment themselves, then they probably know someone else who could. Charity and nonprofit organizations know best how to get the things people need to those who need them most.
7. National Programs Can Help
Still having trouble finding a new home for your old computers? Don’t give up just yet. If local groups and charities can’t or won’t take your equipment, there are a number of national and even international programs that know exactly what to do with old hardware to keep it from simply being thrown away as harmful e-waste. These include the World Computer Exchange, Techsoup, and Computers with Causes, to name just a few.
8. Contact the Recipient Beforehand
Donations are always appreciated, but even the people who need them the most aren’t always in the best position to make use of them. Whether because of poor timing, being short-staffed, or not having enough room, an organization may be ill-equipped to make use of your devices. Instead of foisting upon them equipment they can’t use, make a point of contacting potential recipients beforehand to make sure they not only have a need for the items you’re donating but also the resources to utilize them.
9. Keep a Record of Your Donations
As with all of your property, it’s a good idea to keep a thorough record of any electronics equipment you own, have given away, or recycled. Not only is this helpful at tax time (see below), it’s a good way to keep organized. It can also save you quite the headache a year from now when you’re tearing apart the whole house looking for that used CRT monitor you forgot you already donated to the local high school.
10. Most Donations Are Tax Deductible
There are many benefits of donating your unwanted computer equipment to those who need it. Chief among them is the satisfaction of knowing you’ve made a positive contribution to the life of another person. If you’re looking for something a bit more quantifiable, though, it’s worth noting that most technology donations are tax deductible. Keep that in mind when it comes time to file.
Donate or Recycle Your Old Electronics Today
Newtech Recycling is proud to be there for our clients who need to donate or dispose of their old computers and other electronic devices. Before donating equipment that others might still be able to use, it’s important to keep your own personal data out of the wrong hands. Newtech Recycling’s on site hard drive shredding service will do just that. For less salvageable devices, Newtech Recycling has the answer once again with computer electronics recycling services that are second to none.
Whether you’re donating or destroying, if you need help with your e-waste recycling in NJ, NY, CT, or PA, Newtech Recycling has the equipment and the experience you’re looking for. Contact us today and let us put our skills to work for you.
The Effects of Not Recycling E-Waste
Technology has greatly improved our lives, but progress can be hard to maintain. Every year, companies release new devices that make last year’s models instantly obsolete. The average consumer upgrades to a new cell phone once every two years and a new computer every three to five years. So what happens to the old ones? All too often, they become part of the 50 million metric tons of electronic waste (or e-waste) improperly discarded in landfills every year. And while many people adopt an “out of sight, out of mind” mindset when it comes to e-waste disposal, this way of thinking is incredibly harmful.
Keep reading to learn about the effects of not recycling e-waste and how Newtech Recycling can help.
The Impact of Technology on the Environment
With improper electronic waste disposal accounting for 70% of landfill soil pollution, we recognize this as a major environmental and public health crisis. Many hazardous materials are used to manufacture even common electronic devices like computers. For instance, did you know that computer components can include lead, mercury, cadmium, and chromium? All of these can cause devastating harm when exposed to the earth or human body.
So, why is this e-waste recycling so essential? How does e-waste impact the environment? Below, we’ll explore the full extent of the negative ramifications of not recycling e-waste and the impact technology has on the environment.
1. It Turns the Air into Poison Gas
There’s a good reason why most states today have e-waste laws. The threat e-waste poses to the environment is not confined to the future. It is immediate. When toxic contaminants are introduced into the atmosphere, either through burning (a common method of waste disposal in unregulated areas) or as particles released during improper dismantling, they can travel thousands of miles. These deadly fumes are a leading cause of respiratory illness, and have also been linked to cancer and other chronic conditions.
2. It Pollutes the Water We Drink
Just because you don’t live near a landfill doesn’t mean computer waste and the environment shouldn’t concern you. Just as airborne pollutants can travel surprisingly far on wind currents, e-waste contaminants can make their way into rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. This occurs when rainwater dissolves electronic components such as barium and mercury, which are then carried by the precipitation into various bodies of water. Even without rain, contaminants often leak through the earth into the groundwater. There, acidification wreaks havoc on underwater ecosystems. And it can do the same to us should it find its way into our drinking glasses.
3. It Seeps into the Soil and Our Food
Lead, mercury, and cadmium: these substances all have three things in common. First, they’re all components of electronic equipment. Second, they’re highly poisonous. Third, they’re part of a class of materials called heavy metals; with emphasis on the “heavy” part. Without proper IT hardware disposal, as computers and other devices decay, these heavy metals live up to their name, separating from other components due to their weight and sinking into the soil. Unlike other forms of waste that deteriorate quickly, e-waste pollutants can remain in the earth for much longer periods, harming microorganisms and absorbing into plant life. This includes vegetation that is used as food by both people and animals.
4. It Kills People Every Single Day
Unfortunately, the effects of not recycling e-waste are so severe that it even leads to death. The town of Guiyu is home to the largest e-waste disposal site in all of China, and possibly even the world. Because of poor regulation, e-waste environmental pollution has brought mass sickness and death to the citizens of Guiyu. Many members of the population exhibit severe respiratory, digestive, neurological, and bone diseases. Miscarriage rates are far above average, and 80% of the children who are born later go on to suffer lead poisoning. These horrors are not limited to Guiyu, however. They can be found anywhere and everywhere electronic devices are not properly disposed of. E-waste is not a localized problem. It is a global issue that endangers us all.
How We Can Help
Now that you know the effects of not recycling e-waste, you are probably interested in learning more about how you can properly dispose of these items. Fortunately, Newtech Recycling offers a better way of disposing of unwanted electronics, which helps preserve the environment for future generations while also benefiting mankind and the economy.
At our New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection-approved facilities, we use specially designed machinery to break down your broken desktop computer, old printers, and unwanted TVs into raw materials. Separated by type (aluminum, copper, glass, plastic, etc.), these materials can then be reused by the manufacturing industry for the creation of newer, better technologies.
When you use a certified recycling company, you can rest assured that all of your e-waste is being properly handled, and none of it is going to further pollute the environment. We reuse what we can, and properly dispose of what we cannot.
Recycle Your Electronics with Newtech Recycling
If you are an individual or business and you want to dispose of your unwanted technology safely and responsibly, Newtech Recycling will be there for you. We know how dangerous e-waste can be. That’s why we’ve dedicated ourselves to devising the most effective e-waste recycling process possible. Dangerous elements are disposed of properly, while reusable parts are returned to the manufacturing sector.
If you need help with electronics recycling in NJ, NY, CT, or PA, Newtech Recycling has the knowledge, experience, and equipment to guarantee your old tech is disposed of in a way that won’t harm the environment or your fellow humans.
Contact us today so we can work together for a better tomorrow!
Recycling: Beyond the Bin
In the digital age, recycling transcends the confines of mere plastic, paper, and glass. The surge in technology use has precipitated an urgent need for responsible electronics recycling, especially for devices like computers. At NewTech Recycling, situated in the heart of NY/NJ, we pioneer in offering unparalleled computer disposal services, ensuring your electronics are recycled ethically and efficiently. This commitment not only aids in environmental conservation but also in safeguarding personal data and mitigating the potential for hazardous waste.
The Lifecycle of Your Electronics
Electronics, despite their cutting-edge designs and critical roles in our daily lives, possess finite lifespans. The disposal of these gadgets, particularly computers, when not handled with care, can have dire environmental repercussions. Recycling a computer through NewTech Recycling not only extends the life of valuable materials but also circumvents the environmental degradation caused by hazardous substances found in electronic waste. Our process involves meticulous dismantling, separation, and repurposing of materials, thereby contributing to a sustainable future.
The Importance of Proper Computer Disposal
The significance of proper computer disposal cannot be overstated. Computers and other electronic devices contain toxic substances such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, which pose significant environmental and health risks if not disposed of correctly. Professional computer disposal services, like those offered by NewTech Recycling, play a pivotal role in ensuring these toxins do not end up contaminating our soil, water, and air. Our commitment to environmental stewardship and public health is reflected in our rigorous disposal protocols, ensuring a safer planet for future generations.
How NewTech Recycling Does It Differently
NewTech Recycling stands apart in the realm of electronics recycling. Our comprehensive approach encompasses not just the physical recycling of devices but also a secure data destruction process, guaranteeing the confidentiality and security of your personal or business data. Adhering to the highest industry certifications and standards, our process is transparent, responsible, and tailored to meet the specific needs of our clients. We pride ourselves on our environmental ethics, providing a service that's not just about disposal, but about making a positive impact on the planet.
Beyond the Bin: Other Items You Didn’t Know You Could Recycle
Our commitment to recycling extends beyond computers. NewTech Recycling handles a wide array of electronic items, many of which might surprise you. From old smartphones and tablets to printers and even large-scale server equipment, our facilities are equipped to manage your electronic waste responsibly. This service breadth encourages a more comprehensive view of recycling, urging our community to consider the full spectrum of electronics when thinking about recycling.
How You Can Get Involved
Joining the movement towards a more sustainable future is simpler than you might think. Start by gathering your unused or outdated electronics and reach out to NewTech Recycling for guidance on preparing your items for recycling. Our user-friendly computer disposal services make it easy for both individuals and businesses to contribute to environmental conservation efforts. Together, we can make a significant impact, one device at a time.
Conclusion
Recycling electronics, particularly computers, is more than an act of environmental preservation; it's a commitment to the well-being of our planet and future generations. NewTech Recycling is at the forefront of this movement, offering state-of-the-art computer disposal services that ensure the responsible recycling of your electronics. By choosing NewTech Recycling, you're not just disposing of your devices; you're contributing to a greener, more sustainable world. Let's embrace this journey towards environmental stewardship together, one recycled computer at a time.