E-Waste: An Ever-Growing Environmental Concern

Despite a lack of a clearly-defined definition, e-waste is a growing problem with some potentially very serious side effects on the environment. This type of waste includes VCRs, computers, televisions, copiers, stereos, fax machines and other common electronic products that are nearing the end of their useful lifespan. If these items are simply dumped into landfills, the space will fill up rather quickly. In addition, throwing these items away prevents them from being refurbished, reused and recycled. As such, it is important to find a way to successfully and efficiently collect this waste so it can be used in a less wasteful way.

The E-Waste Issue

According to a 1998 study by the National Safety Council, approximately 20 million computers became obsolete within one year. By 2007, this figure doubled to 40 million. In that same year, 82 percent of this waste ended up in the landfills. This amounted to 1.8 million tons of e-waste in the form of cell phones, televisions, computers and other electronic devices. In all, e-waste accounts for 2 percent of the waste stream in the United States. While this may seem like a relatively small number when compared to other forms of waste, this number is expected to continue to grow. In addition, e-waste items are not biodegradable, which means they will remain in our landfills for years to come.

Addressing These Concerns

In an effort to address concerns about e-waste, many states have created mandatory collection and recycling programs for electronics. The passage of the Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 also helped to address the issue, though the lack of a clear definition for e-waste remains problematic. For example, since specific items are not listed as e-waste, it leaves it up for debate whether or not items such as microwave ovens or other similar appliances are in the e-waste category.

Collecting E-Waste

Regardless of the definition that is used to define e-waste, Securr helps to make the process of collecting these materials easier with our E-Waste Collection Bin. Boasting a 40-gallon capacity, the ADA-compliant receptacle uses a chute type loading door so the contents can be easily placed within the receptacle and remain secure until it is time to remove them. Thanks to this security feature, the items inside the bin can only be removed by unlocking the service door and removing the liner inside.

Made from corrosion-resistant galvannealed steel, the Securr E-Waste Collection Bin is built to last. Thanks to the Galvanized coating used on the cold rolled steel, the material used to make the collection bin has the same corrosion inhibiting properties as hot-dipped galvanized steel while still offering excellent adherence for powder coated finishes. This makes it possible to create the bins in any color desired. While standard colors are black, forest brown, olive green, fir green, sky blue, red and white, custom colors are available.

Meant for indoor use, the Securr E-Waste Collection Bin is built to collect a variety of e-waste products. These include wireless devices, such as cell phones and modems, computers, printers and peripheral equipment and batteries.