End-of-life-electronics are one of the fastest growing portions of America’s waste stream. In some areas E-waste is growing three times faster than any other type of municipal waste. By recycling we can reduce waste and be kind to our environment by keeping toxic materials from contaminating the soil and leaching into our ground water.

Electronics are made with many reusable materials. In 1998, over 112 million pounds of materials were recovered from recycled electronics including lead, steel, glass, and plastic.

Some obsolete electronics can create environmental hazards and legal liabilities if they are disposed of improperly. With more than four pounds of lead in many TV picture tubes and computer monitors, along with other potentially hazardous materials such as mercury, chromium, and cadmium, electronics call for special handling at the end of their lives.

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Did you know according to the EPA...

More than 3.2 million tons of electronic waste is laid to rest in landfills each year.

Nearly 250 million computers will become obsolete in the next 5 years.

Many people discard computers every 3 to 5 years.

In 2001, only 11 percent of personal computers retired in the US were recycled.

Mobile phones will be discarded at a rate of 130 million per year by 2005, resulting in 65,000 tons of waste.

TVs and computers can contain an average of 4 pounds of lead (depending on their size, make, and vintage) as well as other potential toxics like chromium, cadmium, mercury, beryllium, nickel, zinc, and brominated flame retardants. These materials need to be handled carefully.

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Federal and State Regulations:

A number of states including Massachusetts, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, California and others have passed laws that make it illegal to dispose of any computer monitors or televisions in their landfills. Some states still allow individuals to landfill their obsolete computers and electronics, however, legislation is pending in many of those states that would outlaw disposing of end-of-life-electronic materials in their landfills.

Companies and large generators of electronic waste are already required to comply with Federal Law concerning proper disposal of end-of-life-electronics.

EOLE Midwest complies with all State and Federal regulations and issues all customers a Certificate of Recycling releasing them of the liabilities associated with the proper handling and disposal of these materials.