E-Waste? E-z solutions!

 Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Image courtesy of digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

It's no secret that we live in a world where technology surrounds us; it's everywhere! But while we are continuing to come up with new "must have" gadgets, the amount of e-waste that is not properly recycled is increasing at an exponential rate. By throwing away old and unused electronics, we are releasing chemicals like lead, cadmium and mercury into the ground and water supply, which leads to damaging health and environmental concerns. So, how can you help? Here are some ways that you can recycle your electronics and help reduce e-waste:

Re-Sells and Buy Backs: If you're planning on splurging on a new device, try selling your old ones to reduce what actually comes out of your pocket. If you're looking for a quick way to turn in your items and still make some money, try buy back or trade in programs. Check out Amazon, eBay, eBay Instant, or Gazelle if this is the option for you.

Donate: Even though you feel like a device is too outdated or slow for your purposes, there are plenty of other people who can use what you don't need. Schools and libraries are always in need of computers, and charities like Cell Phones for Soldiers happily accept old cell phones so returning soldiers can stay in touch with family and friends.

Recycle: Traditional recycling is also a great way to eliminate old electronics from your home. There are many companies who specialize in recycling electronics, so do your research and find out which one works best for you.

Be Creative: Outdated technology can easily come back to life with a little effort and creativity. Put your brain to the test and see what crafts you can come up with, but try to avoid using batteries and screens since they contain harmful chemicals.

Now that you know how easy recycling your electronics can be, are you ready to join us in a movement to reduce e-waste? For more tips on recycling electronics, click here.

At Boro Wide Recycling, we work to keep our planet safe by providing comprehensive recycling services to commercial and residential customers. Join us in our efforts! Contact us to learn how we can help you in your recycling efforts, and don't forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date with the latest news in recycling efforts and eco-friendly tips.

How to Recycle Your Old Computer

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

In an article posted by techsoup.org, there are tips listed on how you should recycle your old computer. It is important to safely and properly discard your old computer. This is because “75% of the fossil fuels and energy used by a computer are actually consumed during manufacturing. Extending the computer's lifespan through reuse means more return on that initial environmental cost.” Recycling your old computer ensures that valuable raw materials are recovered and that any waste is disposed of properly.

Here are 5 tips on how to recycle your old computer:

1. Can your computer be reused? If your computer is less than 5 years old, it can most likely be reused. “Extending the computer’s lifespan through reuse provides the highest environmental benefit of all electronics disposal alternatives.”

2. Donate newer equipment to a refurbisher. Refurbishers are well equipped to repair and upgrade older computers and they will ensure that the equipment works well. They will also make sure that any e-waste is disposed of properly.

3. Recycle older and broken hardware. Any equipment that is not working or is over five years old should go to “end-of-life” recycling, which means responsible destruction.

4. Remember the software, documentation, and accessories. You should include the mouse, keyboard, printer, modem and any other accessories that have been used with your computer. They can most likely be utilized by schools, charities, etc.

5. Make sure you clear your computer of all your personal information. In order to protect against any unauthorized use of personal information, you should use a disk-cleaning tool that removes all of your data from your hard drive.

For more information on how to recycle your old computer, please visit http://www.techsoup.org/support/articles-and-how-tos/ten-tips-for-donating-a-computer.

Have you ever recycled your old computer? Please let us know on our Facebook page or on Twitter!

New York's New E-waste Law

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

                         Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

                       www.BoroWideRecycling.com

New York has recently made electronic scrap sites more available to the general public.  This has lead to an increase in e-waste recycling and a decrease in government spending in New York State.  New York's e-waste law was implemented on April 1, 2011.  In its first 8 months, the state saw the number of electronic recycling sites increase by 77% and collected more than 44 million pounds of scrap electronics. 

The success of this law has continued since.  It helps prevent the release of hazardous substances into the environment, it also saved the government a lot of money.  This quickly growing increase in electronics recycling has helped New York's e-waste recyclers grow, which brought other types of recyclers to the state, as well as creating jobs and adding to the tax base.  Although public awareness as well as collection sites have both increased vastly, it is still not enough.  The initiatives of take back sites are not as well known and this leads to lower product recovery.  Scott Cassel, CEO of Product Stewardship Institute (PSI), has called for more dialogue between government, non-government organizations, recyclers, retailers and manufacturers to find a solution together.  

"While New York's e-waste collection program, which was established by the law, has had a net positive impact on electronics recycling in the state, there are still some fairly large kinks that need to be ironed out to optimize the system," Cassel said in one statement. 

The Government created this plan as step one to the recycling solution.  Now we just have to continue to improve the plan, and we can start with spreading awareness. 

For more information on the New York e-waste law please visit http://www.wasterecyclingnews.com/article/20130716/NEWS08/130719947/new-yorks-e-waste-law-boosts-recycling-lowers-costs-report-finds



E-Waste on the Rise

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Planning on getting a new ipod or Kindle for a loved one this Holiday Season?  Most people are, along with many other different electronic gadgets, but what do you do with the old ones?  Over recent years e-waste has been on the rise with so many new platforms and upgrade options. Electronics become out of date in such a short span of time these days that we need to figure out how we can dispose these high-tech gift that were under the tree last year.

According to Columbus Dispatch, the U.S. is producing millions of tons of electronic waste- or e-waste annually. The average U.S. household contains at least 24 electronic products. News Electronics states that the U.S is also the producer of the largest amounts of e-waste in the world, it is estimated that over 100 million computers, monitors and televisions become obsolete each year and it is growing each year. Also, over 130 million mobile phones in the United States and over 105 million mobile phones in Europe reach the end of their life each year and are thrown away.

What most people don’t realize is that E-waste contains more than 1,000 different substances according to News Electronics. These include toxic metals such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, hexavalent chromium and flame retardants. During this Holiday Season and for a better 2012 we need to make our contribution to producing less e-waste. Don’t buy what you don’t need, and recycle devices that have reached the end of their life instead of throwing them out.

The e-waste recycling and reuse industry, which is fairly new, is booming, especially with the help of gold, copper and other materials’ skyrocketing value found in some electronic components.

Find out what we can do for you about your e-waste recycling needs. Give us a call at 718-416-1656 or visit our website.