What Are the Impacts of Irresponsible E-Waste Disposal? Every time you toss an old cell phone, laptop, iPod, or other electronic device into the trash, do you know where it ultimately ends up? These items end up in our landfills where the toxic metals and chemicals contained within them eventually leach into the soil as they degrade. While the toxic chemicals of just one cell phone might not seem like a lot, consider the environmental impact when more than 100 million cell phones are dumped, such as what happens in […]
Top 3 E-Waste Recycling Fails of 2015 This year, e-waste recycling made great strides in being recognized as one of the most important things big businesses can do to help control operational costs, mitigate risk, and help protect the environment. But, while so many ethical companies embraced proper e-waste disposal and earned e-Stewards certification in 2015, many still chose to practice illegal techniques for getting rid of unwanted electronics. Unfortunately for some, they found themselves making front-page headlines. Here are the top three e-waste recycling fails of 2015. #1: Michigan […]
E-Waste Recycling: Getting Kids to Help Solve the Problem Today’s families have an average of 24 electronic gadgets. From iPads and iPhones to Android tablets and hand-held video game devices, electronics are ingrained in most households because they are used for everything from communication to entertainment. Since many of these devices are used by the family’s younger members, it is important to educate children about the facts on e-waste recycling so they can become advocates for change as they grow. This guide will help you introduce the topic of e-waste […]
With its fresh, clean air and rising temperatures, spring is the ideal time to open up the windows and give the home a thorough cleaning from top to bottom, hence the term “spring cleaning.” But, the home isn’t the only place that needs an annual clean-up. Spring also makes for the perfect time to spruce up and streamline the office. And, for many companies, this means getting rid of inventories of old, outdated IT. If your office is undergoing an IT spring cleaning, then you need to ensure that you’re […]
Ever since the new laws and regulations for e-waste disposal were initiated, there has been little in the news concerning perpetrators of those laws. But in November, that all changed as AT&T became the first major business to face stiff penalties as a result of the company’s illegal disposal of hazardous e-waste materials. After a nine-year investigation, the telecommunications giant had to pay out $52 million to the state of California. According to records, AT&T manages 235 warehouses and dispatch facilities throughout California. The investigation uncovered unlawful disposal of e-waste […]
Gradually, the world is becoming more and more enlightened about the importance of e-waste recycling. But, despite this revolutionary growth, many CTOs and IT department heads are still unaware of a lot of facts regarding the issue. As we learn more about the e-waste issue, our hope is to reverse the trends so industries worldwide can practice more responsible methods of e-waste disposal. And, with the New Year closing in, now is the perfect time to pass along some of the hidden facts about today’s e-waste problems. #1 – E-Waste […]
If you’re like most people, you probably give your home a thorough spring cleaning once the weather is warm enough to open the windows. But, what about your office? By making office spring cleaning an annual event, you’ll enjoy a cleaner and more organized workplace. After all, you spend more time at work than you do at home, so keeping your office clean is important for a number of different reasons. Of course, office spring cleaning means more than just wiping down the walls and dusting off the lamps. Here, […]
On June 22, 2011, the Responsible Electronics Recycling Act (RERA) was introduced to Congress, but as of this writing, it has yet to be enacted. Liquid Technology is a supporter of this Act because it targets a number of issues that currently remain unaddressed in the electronics recycling industry. With more than 3.1 million tons of e-waste being produced in the United States alone on a yearly basis, electronic waste is the fastest-growing waste stream in the country, yet only about 12% of this waste is recycled. What makes matters […]