Recycling electronics in the U.S. and around the world is a growing concern. The number of electronics purchased by consumers increases each year, while the percentage of recycling of old electronics remains the same.
In 2008 the U.S. created 3.16 Million tons of e-Waste with only 13.6% being recycled. As compared to the prior year of 2007 the U.S. generated 3.01 Million tons of e-Waste with 13.6% being recycled. The rest was trashed-in landfills or incinerators¹
-Electronics TakeBack Coalition, E-Waste Facts and Figures- June 2010
What does this mean and why is it important? This means the amount of electronics being thrown into landfills is increasing and it's important because it is leaving behind, lead, cadmium, mercury and other hazardous waste that not only pollute the soil but also the water table.
If items are not being discarded, they are being stored which takes up space at your business and in your home! The EPA also estimated that 234.6 Million Units are currently in storage.² (this does not include mobile phones) • Desktop Computers: 65.7 Million • Desktop Monitors: 42.4 Million • Notebook Computers: 2.1 Million • Hard Copy Peripherals: 25.2 Million (printers, copiers, faxes, multi’s) • Televisions: 99.1 Million
As a community we can help slow this trend by recycling our electronic equipment. There is no charge for dropping off your old equipment. Sun Digital does recommend, for security and identity theft purposes, all computer hard drives be removed and destroyed and/or all data be removed. A small service fee will be charged for this removal and cleaning of the hard drive. A certificate of destruction can be provided upon request and is an additional charge. For further information on drop off times and charges please fill out the Recycle My Computer contact form.
Electronics TakeBack Coalition reference sources for the above E-Waste Facts and Figures listed: ¹ “Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling and Disposal in the United States: Fact and Figures for 2008." United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid Waste (EPA-530-F-009-021, November 2009. Data is from Characterization Data Tables 12-14, beginning on page 14:” http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/municipal/pubs/msw2008data.pdf ² “Electronic Waste Management in the United States Approach 1” Table 3.4 EPA530-R-08-009 US Environmental Protection Agency July 2008. http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/ecycling/docs/app-1.pdf | 
