Can All Electronics Be Recycled?
Cleaning up our earth and safeguarding it from harmful substances, coupled with the desire to repurpose the benign components found in electronic devices, forms the cornerstone of responsible recycling. Embracing recycling is not just an organizational commitment. It is a shared responsibility that impacts us as a greater world community.
Since significant portion of electronic devices are derived from plastic and metal, they, by and large, can be recycled with relative ease. Yet, it's prudent to note that certain specific types prove to be somewhat more challenging when it comes to safe recycling.
At Lexington Computer Recycling, we take pride in our commitment to a sustainable future by recycling electronics responsibly. But can all electronics be recycled? Let's explore this question in detail to give you a better understanding of the recycling process for different types of products.
The Basics of Electronics Recycling
E-waste, or electronic waste, is any discarded electrical or electronic device including items such as computers, smartphones, televisions, and more. As technology advances and new devices hit the market, the amount of e-waste grows at an alarming rate, posing a significant storage and removal issues for offices and a greater environmental challenge as trash enters landfills.
Electronics recycling is necessary to deal with the epidemic of e-waste, which contains materials that can be harmful if improperly disposed of. The responsible recycling of these devices not only prevents damage to the ecosystem but also reclaims valuable metals and parts that can be reused, reducing the demand for raw material mining.
How the Process Works
Electronics recycling encompasses a broad range of devices, and each has its own specific recycling procedures. Once we pick up or receive your old electronics, we de-manufacture and sort the material. We are certified in data security to ensure the materials are disposed of legally and without posing a security or environmental threat. From your home PC to Data Center Cloud storage devices, LCR has you covered.
Our process includes:
- Sorting by type
- Manual dismantling to remove hazardous materials, batteries, and reusable parts
- Mechanical processing for material separation
- Refining, shredding, or smelting to prepare materials for reuse
Devices that Can Be Recycled
- Computers and laptops
- Smartphones and tablets
- Printers, copiers, and fax machines
- Servers and other IT equipment
- LCD and LED Monitors
- Other electronic equipment
Devices that Require Special Care
Some materials and devices require special care and can be properly disposed of but do require a fee in order to do so. Common electronics that may fall into this category include:
- Devices containing radioactive materials
- Devices with dangerous elements like Mercury Switches
- Appliances with built-in screens (like a smart refrigerator)
- Some GPS devices due to the battery component
- Certain power tools have batteries that require special recycling
- Cell Phones and Tablets require battery removal before destruction
- Light Bulbs of the CFL variety and Fluorescent tubes
- CRT Style Computer Monitors and Glass Tube Type Televisions
In these cases, there may be more specific recycling processes in place to deal with these items. Our team at Lexington Computer Recycling will work with you to discern any special items that require extra care. We are always able to help with unique projects.
Questions about Recycling?
Visit our FAQ page to get answers to commonly asked questions such as the following:
- What happens to hard drives and data?
- How can you ensure our data is completely erased?
- Can I witness my hard drives being destroyed?
- Do you offer mobile hard drive shredding for bulk hard drive destruction?
- How do I arrange a pick up?
- …and more!
Contact Us
While almost all electronic devices can be recycled in some way, the process can be more complex or specialized for certain items. Be sure to reach out our Lexington Computer Recycling for guidance!
Lexington Computer Recycling was created to make getting rid of your old, broken, and outdated devices easy. Call or contact us today to learn more about our e-recycling process.
Besides our electronics recycling, we also perform data center services and logistics services from our Nicholasville, KY facility. We are proud to serve Nicholasville, Lexington, Georgetown, Frankfort, and Louisville, KY, as well as Cincinnati, OH, and the entire United States.
