How to Recycle Your Old Computer

"Recycling even a single laptop can make a real impact. According to the EPA, recycling one million laptops saves enough energy to power 3,500 U.S. homes for a year. Computers also contain valuable metals like gold, silver, copper, and platinum that can be recovered and reused. The easiest way to make sure your computer is properly recycled is to take it to a local retailer with a computer recycling program or use a manufacturer's trade-in program. To find one near you, check out our Recycling Locator."

"As computers have become more common, electronic waste is now the fastest-growing type of waste in the world. The UN's Global E-Waste Monitor 2024 reports that in 2022, the world produced a record 62 million tonnes of e-waste-an 82% increase since 2010. That amount could fill 1.55 million 40-ton trucks, enough to circle the equator bumper to bumper. Key findings from the report include: Only 22.3% of e-waste generated globally was formally collected and recycled in 2022 E-waste generation is rising five times faster than recycling investments."

"E-waste is projected to reach 82 million tonnes by 203, up 32% compared to 2022 Improperly managed e-waste results in $78 billion in business and environmental costs from lead and mercury emissions, plastic leakages, and climate contributions Recycling e-waste offers a huge economic opportunity. In 2022, the raw materials in global e-waste were worth $91 billion, including $19 billion in copper and $15 billion in gold, and prices paid for those metals have increased substantially since then. Only $28 billion was recovered through recycling, with most materials lost because of improper disposal. By recycling your computer responsibly, you help recover valuable resources and keep harmful materials out of landfills. Before you recycle your computer, make sure to protect your personal and business data. Just deleting files or reformatting your hard drive is not enough, since data can still be recovered with special"

Recycling one million laptops saves energy sufficient to power 3,500 U.S. homes for a year and individual computers contain recoverable valuable metals including gold, silver, copper, and platinum. Local retailers and manufacturers often offer recycling or trade-in programs, and recycling locators can help find options. Global e-waste reached 62 million tonnes in 2022, an 82% increase since 2010, and could fill 1.55 million 40-ton trucks. Only 22.3% of e-waste was formally collected and recycled in 2022, with generation rising much faster than recycling investments and projected to increase further. Raw materials in e-waste were worth $91 billion in 2022, but only $28 billion was recovered, and improper management causes substantial environmental and business costs.

Read at Earth911