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FROM A TECHNICAL MIND Finding E-Waste Solutions by Austin Steger
Many electronics have a short life span, resulting in homes full of old phones, tablets, televisions, printers, and more.
However, old electronics can be broken down for their raw materials, used to repair other devices, and be upcycled into art, jewelry and more.
Valuable raw materials can be extracted from technology using several processes, including melting and stripping. Extracted materials can include copper, tin, iron, aluminum, titanium, gold, and silver.
Even some of the less valuable materials, such as plastics and glass, can be recovered, reused and recycled. Some companies purchase broken phone screens because the liquid crystal display glass can be replaced to make refurbished screens.
Many repair shops will purchase or accept donated electronics to use parts for repairs. These components can include cameras, screens, charging ports, buttons, antennas, and more.
Electronics recycling faces several challenges. Even though the volume of recyclable electronics is increasing, the quality of recyclable content is decreasing.
Devices are getting smaller and smaller, which means they contain fewer precious metals and less valuable material. Many products are being manufactured in ways that make them not easily recyclable, repairable or reusable.
Proper disposal of e-waste is important because the presence of hazardous materials in these products poses risks to humans and the environment. E-waste is especially hazardous when it gets hot because it then releases toxic materials which can seep into groundwater and impact water supplies, animals, oceans, and humans. There are local options for e-waste. Computers and their accessories can be turned in at repair stores and the Medina County Recycling Center.
Repair stores will sometimes pay for the items and will reuse many components for repairing other units.
The recycling center accepts other e-waste as well, although it does charge for disposal of some items. A list of what it accepts and a fee schedule is available at https://bit.ly/2IpBc0U
Working cell phones are very much in need at the Battered Women’s Shelter. Contact the shelter at 330-723-9610 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, to arrange for donations.
Other places that will recycle cell phones and sometimes offer to buy them are phone companies and technology repair shops.
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Austin Steger is a local computer and mobile electronics technician and technical communicator. He can be contacted at repairs.riztech@gmail.com or by calling 330- 952-1225.
