People use tons of items daily that they can and should recycle—like paper, plastic, milk cartons, pop cans, and even grass clippings. People use light bulbs, computers and phones every day but have you ever thought of recycling your electronic items? We produce a lot of e-waste that we need to dispose of and recycle.. Let’s look at what some of those items are.
Recyclable Items List
Computer Accessories
In our homes and offices, we use computer mice and keyboards daily. People frequently have hundreds of computer accessories in their offices and homes. They should recycle items like Ethernet cables, charging cords, and external hard drives.
Recyclers can strip wiring from computer accessories and recover the metal to make new items. In addition, they can recycle circuit boards for two reasons: first, they can shred and sort them like other accessories; second, they can extract and reuse the metals found in them. Circuit boards also contain hazardous chemicals and materials, which recyclers must dispose of properly instead of discarding them in a landfill.
Televisions
Televisions are no longer a luxury but rather a necessity in peoples’ homes. Each type of television has its own set of recycling requirements. CRT televisions contain lead, so you must handle them properly to comply with federal and international regulations. You can recycle and reuse the metals found in CRT televisions.
Properly remove and recycle LCD and plasma TV screens. You can shred and reuse their circuit boards. Keep hazardous materials separate from non-hazardous materials. You can recycle old TV free at King of Recycling.
Light bulbs
Fluorescent, LED, incandescent and compact fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs should be recycled. LED lights are becoming increasingly popular in new light fixtures and strip lights are often installed beneath counters and cabinets. Although stores are gradually phasing out incandescent bulbs, they still sell them, and people use them in lamps or overhead lights. CFL bulbs are replacing incandescent bulbs because they last longer and consume less energy.
Mercury powder is present in fluorescent tube lamps and CFL bulbs. Consequently, it is hazardous to the environment and can contaminate both soil and water. Animals and humans can become very ill if they consume contaminated water. Furthermore, contaminated soil renders the land unfit for plant growth. The base of LED lights houses a circuit board. Recyclers shred circuit boards for reuse and sort them to remove household hazardous waste, just like keyboards and computer mice. Incandescent bulbs have recyclable aluminum bases and wiring on the inside that can be recycled and reused. You can recycle and reuse all of these bulbs.
AA and AAA batteries
The most popular types of batteries we use to power our TV remotes, children’s toys and other battery-operated home products are AA and AAA batteries. Unfortunately, smoke detectors and other monitoring equipment constantly drain these batteries, necessitating their replacement. However, if people choose to keep AA and AAA batteries for recycling rather than throwing them away, they can quickly add up.
Manufacturers use a variety of metals and chemicals to make AA and AAA batteries. To the untrained eye, lithium, alkaline and other commodities appear to be the same. However, there are different techniques to sorting, storing, packing, transporting and recycling batteries. If people dispose of them in a landfill, the exterior protective coating can deteriorate over time, allowing the chemicals inside to escape. Rain and run-off pick up these pollutants, contaminating the soil and water outside the landfill. Batteries in landfills can also cause fires which are tough to put out and spew poisons into the atmosphere. Look for e-waste recycling services near your locality.
Cellphones
We all have smartphones, don’t we? Even 5-year-olds are using smartphones and tablets. They aren’t just for making phone calls. We use them to text, check emails, navigate and look up information. Additionally, they can function as cameras, calculators, and calendars
Smartphones and flip phones have circuit boards that run on batteries. We should also recycle the plastic and wiring, in addition to recycling circuit boards for metal reuse and disposing of hazardous materials. Recyclers must handle and process cellphone batteries carefully, from collection to shredding.
Where to recycle?
That’s all there is to it. Five items to recycle daily. Remember, you can and should recycle the item in your hand—the one you scarcely even think about. The next time you think about upgrading your cell phone or unscrewing a burnt-out light bulb to replace it with a more energy-efficient variety, consider the recycling aspect, not only because they contain recyclable components but also because it may contain hazardous or toxic materials that, if not treated appropriately, might affect our soil, water and air.
Do you know who can help you with recycling? King of Recycling. We provide a free drop-off service and can easily recycle all your residential and office electronic waste.
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