E-Waste: An Emerging Health Risk and Recycling Alternatives

Have you ever thought of risks of E-Waste? Well, most people never really think about it, that’s why “e-scrap”, or “Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment” is an emerging problem!

What is E-Waste

E-Waste is a loose description of electrical and electronic devices or components which are dumped, rather than recycled. Electronics are the fastest growing segment of possessions that keep changing specifications and creating junk in their path, while only 12.5% of e-waste is recycled. Think of TVs. First, it was the big old Tube TV, and then the Projection Style TVs were popular, then Plasma TVs, then LCD TVs and now LED TVs. It never stops! All those different versions of televisions were invented and sold in only 20 years!

Many items such as our monitors, VCRs, DVD players, stereos, computers, copiers, fax machines, tablets, and mobile phones cannot be just thrown out in the dumpster out back. Think about gadgets you replaced or upgraded to new models last year. All of them end up abandoned in some basement garage or office corner right? It’s time to discover better and “greener” alternatives.

Concerns With E-Waste

What can happen if you don’t separate your old batteries when throwing out the trash or don’t take an old computer monitor to a recycling center? Well, the main problem here is “leachate.” The mercury and cadmium from batteries and lead from the old monitor would eventually be released into the landfill leachate. Rainwater becomes contaminated as it seeps through the landfill where it contacts with leachate. In the better scenario, this water will return to the atmosphere and destroy natural chemicals balance in it. In the worst scenario, the leachate can seep right through into groundwater, which we use as our primary water source!

This pollution has very negative effects on the overall ecosystem. These materials such as tin, silicon, iron, aluminum, and a variety of plastics, can be recycled and reused. Some components like copper and gold are very valuable and can be collected and traded in for money.

How To Recycle Electronics Properly

The first rule in e-waste recycling is not to store them in the first place. Jason Linnell, co-founder and executive director of the National Center for Electronics Recycling recommends:

“It’s best for people to recycle or turn in these devices as soon as they are outdated and not being used because this provides the best reuse potential and value for the device.

If people wait too long, the device may become too obsolete, not as valuable, or even too hard to extrude the components that can be resold or refurbished.”

Think of the electronics laying around your house that you would like to be properly disposed of.
At Junk-a-Haulics we collect almost all electronics, including:

  • Mobile phones
  • Television sets
  • Computers
  • Monitors
  • Printers
  • Copy Machines
  • Shredders
  • Handheld Devices
  • Entertainment devices like DVD players and handheld video games
  • Refrigerators
  • Amplifiers & Stereos
  • And more…

If you need electronics picked up, we have 3 simple steps to take care of everything. It’s easy!

1. Just call 908-248-4285 or book your electronics removal appointment online.

2. Get a free no obligation estimate from our team.

3. If the price works, we’ll haul away your e-waste the same day and make sure to recycle and donate as much as possible.

Computer Hard Drives and Data Destruction

As many of you know computer hard drives often have sensitive information on it. You’d probably like to be reassured it was disposed of right and the data system can’t be reconstructed. At Junk-a-Haulics we do not personally do our own Data Destruction, but we partner up with companies, who do. They erase the data completely!

It can be done in different ways, but it is commonly done using magnets and other devices that erase the data altogether as if it never even existed.

Moreover, we can even provide a certificate of destruction from our partner companies, so that you can have the peace of mind knowing nobody has access to your content.

Junk-A-Haulics can help!

Now that the holidays are over, it’s time to plan for holiday cleaning. Start the New Year fresh and tidy. Let us take care of junk disposal and E-Waste recycling. We will come to your house to do all the sorting, and take care of it on the backend, so all items will be delivered to all the different places they need to go.

Simply book an appointment or call us at (908) 248-HAUL [4285] for a free estimate. You can also can in touch by filling out our contact form.

Book Now!