Author: ironcore

In an increasingly digital world, you are becoming more and more susceptible to data breaches. Most of the time, you can prevent these threats by implementing advanced security programs. But despite such robust solutions, you can still be vulnerable to data leaks. If you don’t educate your employees on cybersecurity, they may be your weakest link.

It’s the lack of basic company policies and procedures that often lead employees to unwittingly cause security incidents through negligent actions. According to the 2018 Cost of Data Breach, a study conducted by Ponemon Institute, 25% of data breaches in the U.S. are triggered by human error, including one’s failure to properly delete data from devices.

Other preventable errors that caused data leaks were clicking on malicious links that were part of phishing attacks, misconfigured servers, and network devices.

Misconfigured Servers

The report suggests that 70% of data loss happened because of misconfigured cloud storage servers, databases, and networks. More cybercriminals are aware of the existence of such misconfigured cloud servers, and they will continue to target companies this way if no one will do anything about it. The number of breaches due to such lapses increased by 424% from the previous year’s record.

Data leaks caused by negligence now happen half as frequent as security attacks, the report shows. Costs of data breaches vary depending on their cause. With negligent breaches, they cause U.S. companies $128 per compromised record.  On the other hand, the cost also varies by industry. For example, data leaks in the financial industry cost institutions two times more than the healthcare sector.

Phishing Attacks

One-third of the data leaks were due to phishing attacks. The report is consistent with the findings of another study that was published recently. In Baker Hostetler’s 2018 Data Security Incident Response Report, they found that phishing attacks continue to place sensitive information at risk. More importantly, the success of these threats was primarily caused by a few common mistakes that employees and vendors made.

Even large organizations armed with highly-advanced solutions often fall victim to phishing scams. Snapchat is one of them. As you probably already know, employees of the social media platform received bogus emails from a person impersonating the company CEO. In the email, the hacker asked for payroll information. Unfortunately, one HR employee disclosed the information.

According to Baker Hostetler, both highly-skilled and unsophisticated hackers use phishing as a tool to obtain direct network access. They may use it to trick employees into wiring money to their accounts. They also use it to deploy malware and ransomware. For victims of such security threats, the consequences can be costly. Plus, the incidents are often difficult to investigate.

So, what can organizations do to prevent such incidents from happening?

Preventing Data Breaches

Companies need to adopt sophisticated and comprehensive IT security programs. It must cover a range of solutions that can help prevent and detect possible attacks. You can even opt to use physical security keys to protect employees and the company from hackers. If you haven’t heard, Google hasn’t had a confirmed instance of an account takeover since their staff started using security keys.

However, having a robust software or hardware solutions are never enough. If employees continue to be unaware of the risks and consequences of cyber-attacks, the organization will remain susceptible to such threats. Thus, it’s vital that you take a proactive approach to educate your employees about cybersecurity.

Training can help your staff understand the impact of cyber incidents. You can explain the consequences of their actions on the financial health of your business and customer trust. You can, for example, go over certain scenarios of what may happen if they opened important work documents using public Wi-Fi networks or personal emails on their work computer.

By teaching your people how to recognize and respond to cyber threats, you will be able to prevent malicious attacks that your security systems can’t detect such as a seemingly innocent email or a work-related phone call.

More importantly, you need to let your staff understand that cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility. In doing so, you can ensure that your employees won’t be your weakest link but your strongest line of defense.

Recycling your IT hardware is an important step to preventing data breaches. To learn more about how Securis can help protect your data, please contact us today.

When you get rid of your old cell phone, television, or stereo, where does it end up? Electronic devices, whether they’re as large as a washing machine or as small as an iPod, don’t simply disappear. They, unfortunately, end up in a landfill where they contribute to one of the fastest-growing categories of trash, e-waste.  

Electronic devices that have been discarded are a threat not only to our environment, but to our health as well. Since these gadgets are made up of hazardous components such as lead, cadmium and polychlorinated biphenyls, they pose a major threat to everyone’s health, especially children’s.

So, what can we do to reduce e-waste?

We recycle.

No matter how old, your gadgets will remain a precious source of valuable metals like gold and copper. If more companies practice electronics recycling in the coming years, next-generation smartphones and tablets could be made from their predecessors. We could reduce the need for mining precious metals. In turn, we can conserve such finite resources.

E-waste Mining

Even though the world knows that e-waste holds billions’ worth of components and metals, we don’t recycle as much as we can. We recycle 20% of electronic waste through the right channels. But now that private and public sectors are becoming more aware of their impact on the environment, things should change in the coming years, starting with mining.

E-waste mining doesn’t involve extracting ores buried underneath the ground. It’s the process of extracting valuable metals from existing gadgets. Instead of dumping old and obsolete devices in landfills, they can be used to create new ones. It’s beneficial to the environment, and it’s going to be great for the economy.

In a study published in Environmental Science and Technology, researchers from Macquarie Graduate School of Management and State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation suggested that e-waste mining could be as profitable as de novo mining.

The team assessed the costs of eight electronic waste processing companies in China, and they compared it to costs incurred from traditional mining practices. They found that traditional mining sees 13% more costs than e-waste mining. They indicated that e-waste mining could be feasible and even profitable.

In the study, the researchers also suggested that entrepreneurs looking to start electronics recycling businesses must have the knowledge and expertise on metals and metal processing. Moreover, they indicated that e-waste mining might have to start off at a small scale.

Current E-Waste Mining Practices

Today, there are a handful of entrepreneurs who have already started their own e-waste mining companies. Veena Sahajwalla, an Australian professor, is one of the pioneers. Another e-waste project is an initiative from the European Union called Prospecting Secondary Raw Materials in the Urban Mine and Mining Wastes.

Advocates of electronic waste mining like Sahajwalla believe that this practice will be beneficial to several sectors tied up with the process. Countries can also be empowered to control and leverage their electronic wastes. In doing so, they can supply more jobs to their people, and in turn, they can reap the economic benefits.

When it comes to mining electronic products, old cathode-ray tubes and cell phones can be pretty valuable as they are both valuable sources of gold as well as copper. However, this new form of electronics recycling may not be able to handle all of the gadgets’ components. For instance, miners might still need to use considerable amounts of glass and plastics, which are likely to be discarded in the mining process.

On the other hand, other electronics recycling processes are also on the rise, and they should be able to deal with all of the components of e-waste. These practices adhere to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment initiative. Countries like Ireland, for example, have e-waste processing practices that entail separating metals and plastics from other components, enabling them to reuse all the elements extracted.

Conclusion

It may take a while before you see gadgets made entirely from recycled products. It’s unclear if it will ever happen in our lifetime. But one thing is for sure: there are several people working hard to make that possible. Eventually, recycling could serve as an environmental boon and a new revenue stream.

If you would like to learn more about how to recycle electronics, please contact us today.

Technology is evolving faster than it ever has before. Most of us have reaped its benefits which, in many ways, have made our lives so much easier and convenient. Unfortunately, the tech boom also comes with a cost. Now that everyone’s eager to embrace the next best thing, we are all disposing of electronic devices at faster rates. These discarded devices make up massive quantities of electronic waste, which consequently pose major threats to the environment and to our health.

So, how can we enjoy new gadgets without drowning in waste?

Recognizing the Need to Recycle

E-waste recycling refers to the practice of reusing and reprocessing electronic devices and equipment that have been discarded or considered obsolete. Several of these gadgets contain hazardous substances like lead, lithium, and mercury, all of which can pollute our air, water, and contaminate our ecosystems. Suffice it to say, throwing away your old gear in the garbage bins isn’t the safest practice for everyone. It will all just end up in a landfill.

In the United States, 2% of the garbage dumped in landfills is e-waste. But that represents 70% of the hazardous waste, and is contributing the most to the growth of landfills.

It’s high time we made an effort to protect human and environmental health from the widespread impact of electronic wastes. Nowadays, you can find several channels that can handle your e-waste for you.

However, you should choose authorized recycling centers that are designed specifically for handling electronics. This way, you will ensure the safety of any residual information stored on your devices. You can guarantee that the old gadgets are disposed of properly. Plus, you might get a tax deduction for your efforts.

Choosing a Local Recycling Center

Depending on where you live, you might find several recycling centers near your area. The larger organizations don’t often serve regular consumers. But if they do, you most likely need to bring your e-waste over on specific days of the week. As for the smaller recycling centers, the process should be a breeze. It will be much easier for you to turn your gadgets over and let them do the rest. Many companies hold an event for community recycling, where residents can come recycle old devices and have their hard drives shredded. 

Google can definitely help you find and get in touch with recycling centers near where you live. Type electronic recycling centers and the area where you reside, and you should see your options. You might even come across consumer-focused centers such as Free Geek, which has multiple outlets all over the U.S.

Additionally, you can sell your gadgets to local shops that will sell these old devices back to the community. Donating used but not abused gadgets is also a great practice.

Healthy Recycling Practices

Now that you know how to find certified e-waste recycling centers near you, start collecting the stuff you need to throw away. Of course, you don’t need to drop by at the center every time you decide to replace your phone or your laptop. You can make a bin just for electronic waste. Then, take that with you to the recycling center every few months.

If you have any items that are leaking, store them in a large container, like a box. Get any absorbent material such as newspaper and use that to soak up the fluid. Make sure to wear latex gloves or anything that can protect your hands from harmful chemicals.

As for items with broken glass, pack them in separate containers, either in sealed boxes or bags. Batteries aren’t usually accepted, but you might be able to find a few organizations that will accept them for a little fee.  

Before you drop off any item, make sure that it no longer has any personal information stored. Although most recycling centers will do this step for you as they will shred the devices into pieces, you can opt to take your own precautionary measures.

Receiving Tax Deductions

Yes, you might be doing all of this recycling for the community and the environment, but once in a while, it’s nice to see the fruits of your labor. You can get tax deductions by recycling electronic waste. Proceed to nonprofit recycling centers if you want to get a little something in exchange for your efforts.

In the long run, this practice can help you save money, and it will help save the environment. If you’ve yet to do your part, don’t worry, you can always start today.

If you would like to learn more about how e-waste recycling can benefit you, contact Securis today.

Now more than ever, it’s important for the world to embrace healthy recycling practices and pass stronger policies to control the growing impact of electrical and electronic equipment on our health and on the environment. In the 2017 Global E-waste Monitor, the United Nations University found that the world produced a total of 44.7 Mt of e-waste.

E-waste Management Policies

In the Americas, the U.S. came out as the top generator of electronic waste in 2016. Compared to the rest of the world, the country has state and provincial laws for the management of e-waste.  However, there is still a need for a national legislation to prevent improper disposal and treatment of electronic waste and to limit its adverse effects on the environment.

Asia was the leading producer of electronic waste in that same year, generating 40.7% of the world’s e-waste, and recycling only 20% of what they produced.  Certain regions in this vast continent are showing increasing interest in possible solutions for this pressing problem; however, there’s still so much that needs to be done as some regions see zero collection rates.

Europe came second to Asia. Unlike the rest of the world, the European Union has implemented some of the most effective e-waste management practices today. Some countries in Northern Europe even have the highest collection rates in the world, nearly half of what they generate. It certainly helps that their e-waste management is regulated consistently by the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive, which was put into effect in 2003.

Apart from strengthening recycling programs, these policies can further improve recovery processes of recyclable materials. This way, we can produce new products from used materials. We reduce e-waste, and consequently, the environmental risks attached to it.

Improving Recovery of Recyclable Materials

The CloseWEEE project is what the world needs right now. It combines research and innovation to improve recycling solutions. Recently, they came up with new microwave treatment tech specifically for lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries that are discarded. As part of the process, these batteries are placed through pre-treatment where they are discharged. They also go through mechanical processing before they are transferred into a microwave furnace where they are heated rapidly.

As a result, the electrolytes evaporate. This process produces electrolyte-free material that will then be subject to hydrometallurgical treatment. This step is where metals such as cobalt, graphite, manganese, and lithium are extracted.

Recovering critical raw materials (CRMs) is a crucial step in the recycling process as these extracted substances will be used to create new products. The precious metals that are extracted can be used to create a variety of goods, including high-tech devices. But in general, materials that are recovered from battery recycling can be used by other industries aside from the battery industry. The steel industry, for example, can benefit from these recycled materials. On the other hand, it will still depend on the quality of the substances extracted.

CRMs may also be used to produce solar panels, energy-efficient lighting, wind turbines and more. That makes recycling e-waste even more beneficial to the environment. By improving recovery solutions for these precious materials, we can also help other programs that are doing their part to save the planet.

CloseWEEE is in its final year, but it is not, in any way, slowing down. They’ve come up with integrated solutions designed for the pre-processing of EEE, which is an advanced recovery technique for CRMs such as graphite and antimony. Moreover, the CloseWEEE project played a crucial role in the creation of a compound that’s high in quality and is very suitable for applications in new EEE. It is a specific kind of plastic polymer, and it is often used in 3D printing.

Takeaway

Everyone has a role to play in our fight against pollution. As consumers and as citizens, we can all demand stronger policies and better recycling programs from our governments and communities. Better yet, we can take part in the creation of these new solutions. As CloseWEEE proves, we can push the limits of innovation and produce revolutionary solutions that can make the world a better place. We must if we want to preserve all that is good in this world.

For more information about recovering your electronic equipment waste, please contact us. We will be happy to assist you with all your e-waste needs.

With billions of people owning smartphones and other electronic gadgets, it’s not surprising that e-waste is one of the fastest-growing threats to the environment. Any discarded product that is either battery- or electricity-operated is considered E-waste.

There’s a two-fold problem with e-waste: one is that consumers are so quick to upgrade and replace gadgets, which results in an unbelievable amount of natural resources spent on these products.

Another concern is that these gadgets remain stored away in most homes, albeit unused. Unlike perishable waste, it’s much harder for people to throw away laptops, TV, and similar devices. In fact, each family keeps around 80 broken or old devices on average.

In a report published by United Nations University, it was found that the fate of majority of e-wastes (a whopping 76%) is unknown, and are likely kept, traded or dumped hazardously in landfills.  That’s a significant amount of E-waste not being recycled.

Urban Mining As A Solution

Gadgets that do manage to enter the recycling chain undergo urban mining. This process is not only beneficial for the environment, but also has the potential to be quite profitable. A large variety of valuable materials and plastics are found in electric and electronic equipment (EEE).

Up to 60 precious metals are perfectly recoverable in urban mining, which include gold, silver, platinum, copper, and iron. Estimates put the potential value of raw materials in mobile phone waste alone to be as high as 9.4 billion Euros.

Now, urban mining is actually not a new concept, as it has been implemented since 2010. However, there ‘s still a long way to go before countries are able to fully implement urban mining. The Global E-Waste Monitor has found that only 20% out of 44.5 million metric tons of e-waste were collected and recycled in 2016. Clearly, there’s still a lot to be done to boost urban mining.

One major hurdle to urban mining is that e-waste management is as complex as the production of these devices. High-tech facilities and engineers are needed to be able to process e-waste properly. There’s also a lack of comprehensive legislation focused on e-waste that can steer budget and standards for waste management and urban mining. Only 67 countries have e-waste laws.

Urban Mining Initiatives

The good news is, many companies worldwide are able to engage in e-waste management. In India for instance, Cerebra Integrated Technologies Limited is a forerunner for establishing collection sites and sophisticated waste recycling facilities. The company ensures that the recovery of elements like palladium, copper and gold are done with zero landfill or water contamination.

A South Korean factory, SungEel HiTech specializes in recycling the precious metals from used car batteries. These are welcome developments, especially since Asia is the largest contributor of e-waste among all continents.

In the western front, European companies are exploring more efficient and tech-based processes that can improve disassembling and treatment of devices. This way, valuable materials are fully retrieved and the process won’t be as labor intensive. Tech giant Apple introduced Daisy, a robot that recovers materials from old iPhones.

Waste Management That Supports Urban Mining

Effective waste management plays a key role in making urban mining efficient, since it channels e-waste to the appropriate recycling facilities. A good example is seen in England, where waste collectors are enjoining their office-based clients to segregate waste on site before collecting them.

In addition, waste firms look for ‘bespoke’ buyers aside from wholesalers to maximize disposal of more obscure materials.

If these creative solutions are galvanized and strengthened by legislation, there will be big changes on how e-waste can be tapped. V Ranganathan, the CEO and Founder of Cerebra Integrated, believes that the “glaring need” for people to be more mindful of protecting the environment falls largely on the shoulders of tech companies and service providers.

In essence, societies need to shift from a consumer-driven linear economy to a circular perspective. Reuse, repair, redistribution, and remanufacture of e-waste should be preferred prior to creating devices from raw materials.

There is a valuable opportunity in the e-waste management scheme. Helping the environment, keeping natural resources in the loop and earning from the whole process is something that all of society should embrace.

Here at Securis, we can help you dispose of all your e-waste securely. Contact us now and we can destroy your data in a way that won’t put our planet at risk.

Article as seen in The Chantilly Patch:

When Sergey “Lex” Schmitt, a senior at Chantilly High School, graduates in June he will transition to the area Davis Career Center to pursue vocational and life skills training, but he already has a leg up on his competition due to a special work training program he has been participating in for the past year.

Lex started his first work-based learning experience at Securis, Inc., a local provider of green alternatives for electronic recycling, hard drive shredding and data destruction. For more than ten years, special needs students at Chantilly High School, in Fairfax County, Virginia have gained valuable real-world experience as part- and full-time employees.

Securis, headquartered in Chantilly, holds three different classes, training up to 12-14 students each day, though the county’s Career Preparation Class and Education for Employment for Special Education.

“It was hard at first because I did not know how to use the tools,” says Schmidt. “I learned how to take apart computers and became good at it. I like the people who helped me learn this trade.

His parents said that he gained confidence working at Securis, and they thank the Chantilly High School teachers and the staff at Securis for giving their son the opportunity.

Sue Collins, a Career and Transition Teacher at the public high school, explains how the program works. “Students go to the company’s nearby facility anywhere from four to five times a week, usually accompanied by a teacher. They learn work skills, life skills, and social skills. They get respect, dignity and joy, and self-worth – It builds up their self-confidence.”

Securis has been proactive in designing work environments and tasks that are appropriate for each student, and is dedicated to hiring employees with disabilities, says
company Founder and President Jeremy Farber.

“Students with special needs can sign up for the program and a bus brings them to our facility a few days each week,” says Jeremy. Some of them have come to Securis full-time after they graduate. It’s been a great way to participate in the local community and help kids. We have provided training and work experience for over 100 students with disabilities to date.”

One student worked for the company for five years before moving out of state as a full-time on-site supervisor, teaching students with disabilities how to disassemble electronics and follow our safety guidelines, while serving as a mentor and role model for the students.

The company has recently initiated a partnership with the high school to create more opportunities for students with disabilities who are transitioning from high school, such as paid internship opportunities with the intent of hiring students for part-time summer employment.

Apple is continuing its course to implement green processes in manufacturing and retail. As a symbolic move ahead of Earth Day, the tech giant launched Daisy, a new recycling robot that can disassemble iPhones to recover valuable materials. even after the biggest failure of facetime for android technology, apple still believes video calling future for android.

Daisy is a successor to 2016’s Liam, developed by Apple in-house engineers. The robot can take apart 9 different iPhone models and sort the high-quality component from the old smartphones. And Daisy does this fast: in one hour she can dismantle a total of 200 iPhones without damaging the precious metals like copper, gold, and aluminum inside.

Apple has also encouraged users to support their recycling efforts. Apple GiveBack enables trading in old phones in exchange for an Apple Store Gift Card. Meanwhile, phones that are no longer eligible for credit are still accepted and recycled.

The Global E-Waste Problem

Daisy is one form of technology dedicated to urban mining, the process of reclaiming compounds and elements from discarded electronic and electric equipment (EEE) or e-waste.

Urban mining is a response to dwindling resources and environmental problems caused by a linear supply chain, where materials are mined, and products are manufactured and thrown away in landfills after use.

Our hyper-consumer lifestyles are slowly but surely taking a toll on the environment. An average smartphone, for instance, requires nearly 165 pounds of raw material to be produced.

Aside from excessive use of non-renewable materials, technological waste is also a (literally) growing issue with the industries’ linear supply chain.

Indeed, e-waste is a serious matter that is not only a concern for giant companies but for every single person worldwide.

According to the Global E-Waste Monitor report, close to 4 billion people are using the Internet. With the majority of the population owning a gadget or two, the electronic waste totals a monumental 44.7 million metric tons – equaling 4,500 Eiffel Towers!

Apple’s Green Promise

Apple is paving the way for tech firms to consider going green. The company recently announced that their operations are now 100% powered by renewable energy, with considerable investment on renewable infrastructure and technologies. This means that every Apple data center, retail store and office in 43 countries run on clean power.

The brand has also vowed to conserve precious resources by completely relying on recycled materials for the production of all iPhones, MacBooks and other devices.  

Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, is adamant that pushing to establish optimal recycling and renewable energy systems is essential “because we know the future depends on it.”

Apple’s transition to greener operations is encouraging other companies and organizations to make the shift as well, and experts believe that this is a smart move for companies because it allows for long-term savings and brand credibility, apart from giving the opportunity to help the environment, of course.

David Briefel, a regional sustainable design leader at Gensler, says that companies that incorporate these strategies enable them to set the bar for everyone else.

Urban Mining as a Lucrative Solution

For years, we have neglected the potential of e-waste as a resource. But amid rising demand for electronic devices, relying on virgin mining alone is too detrimental (and expensive) for manufacturing companies.

Now that big players like Apple have shown that the closed-loop economy can be quite profitable, more and more companies are gradually adopting environment-friendly solutions.

And why not? Recycling e-waste has great financial potential. Urban mining, in fact, has been found to be a cheaper option of extracting precious metals compared to virgin mining. A great example is gold: there’s 80 times more gold in a ton of smartphones than what is generally found in gold mines.

Aside from common metals, urban mining can also retrieve rare metals like europium and terbium, used in TV picture tubes and lighting. As of late, close to half of these rare metals are sourced from urban mining in China.

Just like renewable energy, e-waste management and urban mining are drawing commitment from companies and investors around the world.

The potential for both environmental protection and profit is something that visionaries just can’t pass on. E-waste has now literally become a precious gold mine.

If tech giants like Apple are making urban mining a key part of their business brand, will societies finally get serious about recycling?

We hope so.

Need help recycling your electronic waste? Contact Securis today to learn more about our e-waste management solutions.

Smartphones, smartwatches, fitness armbands, and other Internet of Things (IoT) devices have become more common in our everyday lives, and they will continue to play an important role in the future.

An increase in IoT devices will also lead to more e-waste. However, the extent to which this e-waste will impact the environment will depend largely on how electronics recyclers innovate their processes and services.

In 2018, the number of IoT connected devices is greater than the world population. This number will surpass 10 billion by 2020 and may rise to 30 to 50 billion by 2030. That may seem alarming, but what’s even more shocking is the potential environmental impact these devices could have.

Consumers demand more from IoT devices

It’s well known that most IoT devices have a lot of dangerous elements inside. These range from heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and beryllium, to hazardous chemicals like brominated flame retardants. Improper disposal of these toxic substances not only causes damage to the environment, but they also affect the health of many communities.

Consumers are often excited to explore all the cool things they can do with their new devices, but rarely think about what happens after the device’s disposal. Just like the millions of devices that have been released in the past few years, “Smart” devices are subject to Moore’s law and become obsolete very quickly. As more people replace their old devices, the need for electronics recycling will grow.

Electric cars may also pose a threat to the environment in the future. Currently, most electric cars use huge lithium-ion batteries. These batteries often have as much lithium as thousand smartphones, or even more, depending on the model. Eventually, these batteries will need to be replaced, and that could present a variety of challenges.

UN estimates the value of precious metals from e-waste: gold, palladium, platinum, lithium, silver and similar – to be $60 billion. As the world becomes increasingly globalized and infrastructures improve, the demand for IoT devices in developing countries will also increase, leading to more demand for precious metals.

Choosing the right electronics recycler

Just because you gave your old gadgets to a recycler, it doesn’t mean it will be recycled. Some dishonest companies export e-waste to landfills in Africa and Asia. These landfills use cheap laborers who manually harvest reusable materials.

When laborers finish harvesting, huge piles of scrap remain behind. Once the storage space runs out, the excess waste is dumped into the ocean. Don’t be surprised if you see one of your old gadgets washed up on the US shore one day.

The good news is that getting rid of your electronics devices is a relatively easy process when you work with a reputable e-waste recycler like Securis.

We have been an R2 certified electronics recycler since 2013 and joined the GSA Schedule 36 of approved contractors to provide data destruction services to the United States Government in 2007.

Our industry experience, combined with our unique expertise in e-waste recycling makes an ideal partner for your IoT electronics waste needs. Contact us today to learn more about our services.

Electronic product life spans have become shorter. On average, consumers replace their computers every five years. Smartphones are replaced within two years, and home appliances are replaced once every seven years, creating a need for e-waste recycling.

Despite the prevalence of electronic products, only a small percentage of e-waste gets recycled, leading to increased environmental damage and pollution.

In this article, we will explore four things you need to know about electronic waste and e-waste recycling before you decide to get rid of old electronic devices.

What is E-Waste?

Electronic waste or e-waste refers to electronic devices that people no longer use. These devices have reached the end of their life and no longer work as they were intended.

Common examples of e-waste include computers and computer components such as keyboards, smartphones, microwaves, televisions, radios, printers, monitors, and electronic toys.

Some of these electronic products contain materials that make them hazardous to the environment. For instance, old CRTs (cathode ray tubes) from televisions and monitors are hazardous to the environment.

Some hand-held devices, mobile phones, and computer parts do contain valuable materials and substances such as gold, silver, copper, lead, and nickel that can be harvested, but they also contain hazardous material such as cadmium, mercury, and sulfur, which require special disposal.

Why Should You Recycle or Repair Your Electronics?

According to The Environmental Protection Agency, US consumers and businesses discard 2.37 million tons of electronic waste every year. Only 25% of discarded electronics end up getting recycled. The rest gets disposed in landfills and incinerators, and illegally exported to developing countries.

Recycling your electronics not only protects the environment from toxic waste, but it also protects people from getting exposed to high levels of contaminants such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic.

These toxic elements can lead to irreversible health effects, including cancers, miscarriages, neurological damage and diminished IQs.

What Can You Do with E-Waste?

Circuit boards typically use gold. Connective wires use copper, and soldering uses silver. When these electronic devices are properly recycled, you can sell these precious metals for a profit and use them to create something completely new.

For example, cell phone batteries can be used to make new smartphones and batteries, while zinc and aluminum from laptops and tablets can be used for metal plates, jewelry, cars or art.

Where are Electronics Recycled?

The best way to get your electronics recycled is to work with a licensed electronics recycling company. There are two standards for recycling electronics in the United States. Each standard has certification programs that the recycler has to go through and maintain.

The first standard is known as the e-Stewards Standard for Responsible Recycling, and Reuse of Electronic Equipment, or e-Stewards for short, and the other is called Responsible Recycling (R2) Practices, or R2.

It’s a good sign if an electronics recycler has either one of these certifications. In most cases, they will be more trustworthy than a recycler without one.

Securis has been an R2 certified electronics recycler since 2013 and joined the GSA Schedule 36 of approved contractors to provide data destruction services to the United States Government in 2007.

Our industry experience, combined with our unique expertise in e-waste recycling makes an ideal partner for your electronics waste needs. Contact us today to find out how we can help.