10 Eye-Popping E-Waste Facts You Need to Know

Unfortunately, E-waste recycling is underused in Alabama and around the world, but it’s a growing and necessary part of any business. E-waste is harmful both for the environment and for your company’s brand or reputation, unless you have a well-planned electronics recycling program.

There is also the matter of protecting personally identifiable information (PII) that exists on almost every electronic device. Today, properly managed e-waste recycling is critical to ensuring that no one engaged with your business is the victim of identity theft.

Depending on your industry, there are also rules and regulations which you’re required to follow with respect to the recycling of e-Waste and other data or information. For example, if you’re in the healthcare industry, you likely need to stay compliant with HIPPA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) which requires the protection of protected health information (PHI).

What you probably don’t know is that the problem of e-Waste is bigger than you might imagine.

Here are 10 eye-popping facts about e-Waste that every business owner needs to know.

1. The value of the raw materials contained in the e-waste produced in the U.S. during 2019 was $7.49 billion.
2. Old television sets as well as CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors contain approximately 4 to 8 pounds of lead, a metal toxin.
3. 40% of the heavy metals in U.S. landfills come from discarded electronics.
4. E-Waste is currently the fastest-growing type of waste in the world.
5. 80% of the E-Waste in the U.S. is shipped to Asia.
6. E-Waste Accounts for Around 70% of Toxic Waste.
7. More than Eighteen Million Tons of electronic waste have been generated worldwide since the beginning of 2021.
8. The world throws out more than 40 million tons of electronic waste every year
9. Only 12.5% of e-Waste is recycled, but recycling electronics creates jobs.
10. 85% of e-Waste is sent to landfills or incinerators (but not if you recycle with Protec Recycling!)

E-Waste Doesn’t Have to Be an Issue

Fortunately, for businesses in Alabama and across the United States, e-Waste doesn’t have to be the issue that it is. It’s possible to mitigate these problems by using a reputable recycling company, especially one that is an NAID AAA Certified recycler, ensuring that your critical data is destroyed safely and completely.

Beyond that, one of the major benefits of working with a NAID AAA Certified recycler is that they can do much more than simply destroy your e-Waste.

Protec can work with your company to remarket IT assets as you retire older computer equipment. Our ITAD (Information Technology Asset Disposition) services can purchase and consign laptops and towers, Apple and PC products, networking equipment, and even standalone copiers. What we can do depends on the age and condition of the equipment.

This can generate an additional revenue stream, giving your business just one more reason to work with a dedicated and experienced e-Waste recycling company.

Choosing Protec as Your Partner

Protec specializes in the secure, compliant data destruction of e-waste, especially those that contain sensitive information.

If you are in need of Protec’s recycling services, call our office at 205-549-2120 to schedule an appointment or a pickup on-site from one of our mobile shredding trucks.