How Are Electronic Items Dangerous To The Environment?

With all of the advancements in technology and our ever-increasing dependency on technology, there is no surprise that the amount of e-waste we generate every single year is remarkable. We create nearly 45 million metric tons of e-waste consisting of electronics, old computers, televisions, e-devices, and even appliances.

This number may seem huge (and it is) but, it makes more sense when you think about the stats about our use of technology, such as the average smartphone user replaces their phone every 22 months. And while there are e-waste recycling facilities and centers out there giving us options for getting rid of these phones, a lot of them end up in landfills – which has some seriously drastic implications for our environment.

The following are some of the areas in which e-waste can impact our environment:

Soil Pollution

When this type of waste ends up in landfills, the heavy metals (mercury, lead, etc.) that are in them can leach into the soil. Batteries from smartphones are full of material that can easily seep into the soil, which creates even more issues, such as …

Water Pollution

When these heavy metals seep into the soil, they can get washed into our groundwater. This not only can cause health issues for the drinking water in the surrounding area, but can also eventually lead all the way back to larger sources of water through rivers and lakes. Once water in an area is polluted with these metals, it is very, very hard to stop more widespread pollution via grazing animals and tainted crops.

Air Pollution

If your e-waste ends up in a waste disposal facility that burns its waste, we can end up burning metals, etc. that can release toxins into the atmosphere and can travel miles and miles beyond just the facility in which they were burnt.

This post was written by Steven Elia Co-Founder and Recycling Director at eCycle Florida. eCycle Florida is a 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 Pinellas County electronics recycling.