Change is on the horizon for e-waste recycling laws and regulation. A new head of the EPA and recent new stories have shined a spotlight on a troubling trend in e-scrap recycling. A thriving international black market has developed in recycling IT equipment. And the poisonous materials inside scrap electronics are poisoning thousands of people overseas. Here’s how you can make sure you follow current and future e-waste recycling laws and ensure your e-scrap recycling is handled properly.
The fundamentals of e-scrap recycling
- Many electronic devices carry hazardous materials. Cell phones and CTRs (monitors and televisions) top the list and need to be disposed of properly.
- Federal disposal and e-waste recycling laws come directly from the EPA and are easily available to the public.
- The EPA allows business to send small quantities up to 220 pounds of electronics to a disposal facility every month.
The consequences of improper disposal
- Violations of EPA regulations come with serious fines, but the real damage can happen in the court of public opinion. A censure from this agency can bring damaging press and publicity resulting in a loss of business.
- The federal e-waste recycling laws pale in comparison to some state regulations. So be sure to check the laws on both a state a federal level.
- Just like shredding your confidential papers, all data should be wiped clean before recycling.
The good news
While the penalty of violating e-waste recycling laws can be costly, the solution can actually be quite profitable. There are respected businesses, like SMS Assembly, that will not only pay for your e-scrap but also ensure your potentially hazardous materials are disposed of properly and safely. Hard drives, processors and ram and even whole server systems are in very high demand. By finding the right partner you can achieve so many things. You can save the environment. You can save your company from potential bad publicity. And you can save your organization some serious money in the process.
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