An Earth Day pitch: When you hang up the phone for good, toss it the right way

Joseph Yob is a recognized e-recycling expert and co-owner of 3S International, an electronics processor based in Mount Pleasant.

How many electronic devices do you have right now within arm’s reach? The modern world is filled with technology – from cell phones, smart watches and tablets to laptops and flat screen televisions – that did not exist in this format five, 10 or 20 years ago. Now think about how many electronic gadgets that you, your family, and your company have discarded in the last year. What did you do with them?

If you don’t have a good answer, you are not alone. Each year, millions of tons of electronics are introduced into the waste stream – an alarming trend estimated to reach an astounding 93.5 million tons of e-waste globally in 2016. This is more than double the 41.5 million tons generated in 2011. We hope to turn the tide this Earth Day by shining the spotlight on the fastest growing (and most hazardous) type of trash facing us today – electronic waste.

If the sheer volume of the problem is not alarming enough, it is important to note that many LCD/flat screens and various tech devices are classified as hazardous waste. While e-waste currently represents 2 percent of America's trash in landfills, it actually constitutes 70 percent of our overall toxic waste. Staggering amounts of end-of-life electronics routinely pile up in our landfills and are shipped overseas to rot, releasing toxins such as lead, cadmium and mercury into the environment.

While the dangers of mercury pollution are particularly critical in the waterways, inland streams and Great Lakes surrounding Michigan, the issue is far larger. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that up to 80 percent of end-of-life electronics given to recyclers today ends up landfilled, re-sold, or shipped overseas, which pollutes foreign environments and places the data contained in that equipment at risk for retrieval. The problem with discarding electronics goes deeper than a landfill – it places sensitive information from hard drives at risk, buries valuable rare earth elements and causes widespread environmental damage.

As heaps of electronics pile up globally, sustainable processes that can keep pace with innovation and stem the flow into landfills are needed more every day. We won’t solve the growing e-waste crisis overnight, however there several ways that you, your community and your company can help right now:

Use an e-Stewards or R2 certified recycler. Although the electronics recycling movement began very slowly, more and more lawmakers, business leaders and consumers are now taking note. In the 1990s, I was an advocate for establishing guidelines and industry standards for electronics recycling, which eventually materialized in the late 2000s as the e-Steward and R2 certifications endorsed by the EPA. These are the best standards in the U.S. today – be sure your recycler is certified.

Follow the truck. Learn about your recycler’s downstream. It is important to make sure that your electronics recycler is a processor, not an exporter, re-seller or asset manager. Make sure to do your research and “follow the truck,” so you can make sure your data is protected and does not end up contributing to the widespread environmental problems resulting from substandard recycling processes. You do not want your electronics – many of which contain sensitive information – to end up in a landfill or exported illegally.

Spend money the right way. Most recycling services and collection facilities, even for just paper and plastic, are paid through taxes or as part of a municipal or community program. The relative cost for recycling paper is not comparable to the advanced recycling technology – such as the BLUBOX utilized by my company, 3S International – required to process and recycle these complex electronic devices. LCD screens and tech devices are complicated, hazardous and are difficult to disassemble.

As we fire through the latest and greatest devices faster than ever – cell phones, tablets, TVs, laptops and more – it is critical that consumers, businesses, and communities safely recycle their toxic tech. By increasing awareness, utilizing better technology and building a strong e-recycling infrastructure, we can make a big impact on handling our electronics consumption and preserving our environment.