Where Does My e-Waste Go

It’s important not get to attached too much to your electronics. Although we may love our laptops, we know they will slow down, stop working, or even get towed away in the garage. It’s all part of the cycle of life. Our equipment deserves more than a life in landfills. It still has some value. What happens to e-waste after it is recycled? There are many options.

Data Removal

You might want to ensure that all private data is removed from your device when you call an electronic waste recycler. This could be shredding, overwriting, or another method. You can request a Certificate for Erasure if the information is extremely sensitive.

Refurbishment

If it is possible to repair or refurbish used equipment, it doesn’t have to be retired. Older assets can still be used for other purposes due to environmental concerns. You might be able to salvage some money from the exchange by asking your recycler for a buyback program.

Separation

Electronics are usually more valuable if they can be separated by hand and resold as raw materials. They are broken down into smaller parts, then placed on conveyor belts and sorted either by machine or manually. These materials include:

• Glass
• Plastics
• Metals

Sometimes electronics contain precious metals such as gold or copper.

Melting

Plastics are further separated by color and sent off to a specialist recycling facility. Melting of the metals, including silver, palladium, and aluminum is done. These metals can be reused to reduce the need for more mining. The planet is given a break because the refining and manufacture of metals emit greenhouse gases.

You may be able to recycle some of your old electronics. eCycle is the company that can handle your e-waste recycling in San Jose. Get in touch with us to learn more about our services.

This post was written by Steven Elia Co-Founder and Recycling Director at eCycle Florida. eCycle Florida is an R2 Certified electronics recycling company in the state of Florida. Our processes and procedures are dedicated to the proper destruction and recycling of your electronics. eCycle Florida is your go-to for commercial electronic recycling