Soil Contamination
Soil Contamination
Many everyday electronic devices contain dangerous or toxic materials that can contaminate the soil and surrounding area if it is not disposed of correctly. This contamination can have dramatic consequences for the ecosystem and even to human health.
For that reason, it’s important to think twice before throwing away unwanted electronics, such as mobile phones, laptop computers, fax machines, and the like. In addition to toxic materials, old and broken devices contain valuable metals like gold and silver, as well as many parts that can be salvaged and repurposed.
Instead of discarding your e-waste in a landfill, contact Newtech Recycling and let us take it to our state-of-the-art facility. There, our recycling process will allow reusable components to find new life in newly manufactured devices and will keep dangerous substances from contaminating the soil.
How Soil Contamination Occurs
When electronic devices are dumped illegally or improperly discarded in landfills, toxic materials can make their way into the soil.
This can happen due to the natural effects of gravity, as is common with heavy metals like mercury, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and lead. While e-waste makes up just 2% of the trash in landfills, estimates suggest that it accounts for nearly 70% of all toxic heavy metals in those landfills.
Soil contamination can also occur due to rainfall breaking down the outer shells of electronics devices and transporting the deadly substances within, such as cyanide and lithium, on small currents of water. This allows these substances to soak deeply into the ground. Traces to these poisonous materials are then absorbed by plants, which are in turn be eaten by animals or humans.
E-waste soil contamination can have dire effects on human health, leading to the development of cancer, respiratory illness, neurological dysfunction, miscarriage, and other debilitating conditions. In regions with significant e-waste pollution, soil contamination has been linked to brain, heart, liver, kidney, and skeletal system damage, and has also increased the rate of birth defects in infants.
How to Properly Dispose of Unwanted Electronics
The best way to prevent your old and broken electronic devices from ending up in places they don’t belong is to work with a professional e-waste recycling service provider like Newtech Recycling.
Newtech Recycling’s specialized process of safe component reclamation and hazardous material disposal means that every piece of technology that enters our facility is handled safely, recycled responsibly, and never ends up taking up space in landfills.
In addition to e-waste recycling, we also offer electronics pick-up and data destruction services, making it easier than ever for you to do your part in the fight against toxic soil contamination, while also being assured that the sensitive personal information stored on your computers, phones, and hard drives will be kept safe from prying eyes.
If you or your business have unwanted electronics that need disposal, including office and lab equipment, don’t wait; contact Newtech Recycling today. We are proud to serve all customers in the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut areas.