![]() Now, just think about those numbers on a national scale. In California alone, it is estimated that the average consumer has two to three computers lying around their home, yet they have no idea what to do with them once they are no longer in use. It also helps reduce the amount of heavy metals found in landfills in the U.S., with computers and other e-waste having been reported to account for nearly 70%. According to a study done by the Institute for Self-Reliance, for every 10 thousand tons of reused materials, 296 jobs are created. In addition, by recycling you can also help to create new jobs. Recycling centers will sometimes pay for these items so that these metals can be reclaimed from the circuit boards. Most computer equipment circuit boards contain small amounts of precious metals such as gold, platinum, silver, copper, nickel, and aluminum. Where To Get Cash For Recycling Your Computer and Electronics That’s not even including the 595,000 tons of computer monitors, of which only 33% were recycled. And only 40% of those computers were actually recycled. In that year, those same consumers disposed of 423,000 tons of computers. How is keeping one old computer, instead of recycling it going to affect the environment? One computer? In 2010, 71.7 million new laptops and desktop computers were purchased in the U.S. Locate A Computer Disposal Facility In Your AreaĬomputer circuit boards may contain cadmium, mercury, chromium, and lead! The average monitor can contain anywhere from 1.5 to 8 pounds of lead. Recycling one computer with its monitor can save 539 pounds of fossil fuel, 48 pounds of chemicals, and 1.5 tons of water. Computer recycling is considered environmentally friendly and keeps toxins and carcinogens from entering the atmosphere. By 2009, 38% of computers were recycled in the United States. Some examples are tin, silicon, iron, and aluminum. And some of these metals are in short supply. Why can’t I just throw my computer away? Well, that’s because it contains hazardous waste, like heavy metals.
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