If your business could do something for FREE that 94% of Americans support and that 74% say should be a top priority, would you do it? What’s to lose? That thing is recycling. And it’s not just a passing fad. At the COP26 climate summit going on in Glasgow this week over 20,000 delegates from 197 countries are making major pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to reduce global warming. Obviously, the environment is a hot issue that is getting hotter (pun intended).
What’s the Deal with E-Waste?
One high-impact area to prioritize in recycling is electronic waste (e-waste), including discarded computers, cell phones, televisions, DVD players, or anything else with electronic components. What’s the problem with e-waste?
- Much of it is still useable (anyone got a VCR?)
- An estimated 60 million tons a year gets dumped in landfills.
- E-Waste leaches cadmium, lead, mercury and other toxins into the soil and water supply.
- Electronic components include precious metals like gold, silver and platinum as well as rare earth metals mined mainly in China.
- States such as California, New York, and Illinois impose cash penalties for dumping e-waste.
How do You Deal with E-Waste?
The smart researchers at Harvard University suggest the following ways to reduce your e-waste footprint:
- Purchase electronics when necessary, not just for bragging rights (“cough” iPhone 13 “cough”)
- Extend your electronics’ life with cases, cleaning, and by not overcharging your battery.
- Buy products labeled Energy Star or certified by the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT).
- Donate still-working devices to charitable organizations.
- Dispose of broken electronics at a dedicated recycling center.
Who You Gonna Call?
So where exactly can you dispose of e-waste conveniently? If you're a client of Ascend, just call us. We will pick up and ensure e-waste is disposed of in a secure and responsible manner. If not, stores that sell electronics often recycle them as well, even if you didn’t buy the product from them. Best Buy will even give you store credit for devices that still have value. Cell phone companies such as T-Mobile and Verizon accept mail-in donations or trade-ins. Xerox and Sony offer haul-away and event recycling programs. For batteries your go-to is Call2Recycle.org—enter your zip code to find links to battery recycling locations in your area. Don’t forget charities: Human-I-T.org, WorldComputerExchange.org, and CellPhonesForSoldiers.com are just a few of the many examples of organizations that will use your donation to benefit worthy individuals. If you're here in Omaha, NE, we recommend you check out Cross Electronic Recycling.
Finally, though donating anonymously may be virtuous for an individual, there’s no reason a business can’t toot its own horn. Be sure to let your customers know you’re doing your part to care for the environment, and get ready for some of that 94% approval rating . . .
