guide to electronics recycling 2020 edition

The Complete Guide to Recycling Electronics for Your Business: 2020 Edition

The Complete Guide to Recycling Electronics for Your Business

I bet you’re not recycling everything you could be. How do I know? Because most of us aren’t! But the good news is: we can start today and we should start with recycling electronics.

What Electronics Can I Recycle?

More good news. You can recycle most, if not all, of your old electronics. And for businesses, which often utilize larger tech like corporate printers and scanners, this can really reduce your environmental footprint. You can even recycle batteries! Just remember that these items cannot be recycled through the regular, weekly recycling service. But before we can get into how to dispose of electronics, we need to get our tech ready.

As you think about clearing out some of your company’s old materials, use this basic list to get you started.

  • Bluetooth or corded speakers
  • Monitors and screens
  • Printers, fax machines, and scanners
  • Gaming systems
  • Landline phones
  • Pagers and cell phones
  • Laptops and tablets
  • Desktop computers
  • Keyboards
  • Mouses
  • USB drives
  • Charging cords
  • Headphones and earbuds
  • Cameras and recording equipment
  • Shredders
  • Label-makers
  • Calculators
  • Light bulbs
  • IT equipment
  • External hard drives

Do I Have to Start Recycling Electronics?

The short answer is: no! You definitely don’t have to recycle your used electronics, but there are a few caveats. You should absolutely recycle any item that is no longer in working order or that is too outdated for modern use. Tossing these items in your garbage bin will send them to the landfill, where they’ll be at risk of breaking down and leaking harmful chemicals into the soil. But if your tech is still in great condition, you can always consider selling or donating it. Emergency services, hospitals, businesses, schools, and certain charities will often take and re-purpose used electronics.

How do I Recycle Electronics?

The easiest way to recycle electronics is by looking into nearby recycling centers that take these types of products. A lot of the time, places like Best Buy, Xerox, and other tech companies offer recycling services. Alternatively, you can look up local centers that specialize in recycling used electronics. You may have to pack up your items and drop them off, but sometimes certain companies can schedule collection times, especially if you are getting rid of larger items like multi-tray printers or a host of large computers.

What to do Before You Recycle

Always double check that you’ve backed up all the necessary files, passwords, and data from your used items before you drop them off at the recycling center. The last thing you’d want is to get back to the office, feeling eco-friendly, efficient, and lighter after purging all your unwanted electronics, only to realize that you left a file on one of your computers or didn’t wipe all your data from a hard drive.

Always Consider Recycling

The thought of packing up all your old tech and driving it to a collection center may seem like more of a hassle then it’s worth, but consider the benefits. Recycling electronics keeps them out of the landfill and keeps our soil and water systems clean. If you have questions about how to recycle your electronics, reach out and let us know.

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