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There are many compelling reasons to recycle obsolete electronic equipment, including protection of sensitive information and avoidance of environmental liability.
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Facts & Figures As much as 50-80% of US e-waste is exported to third world countries where it is generally handled under conditions that are severely injurious to the local environment and public health. 70% of heavy metals in US landfills comes from electronic equipment discards. E-waste is now the largest source of lead in municipal solid waste landfills, comprising 40% of the total. Many modern electronics contain mercury lamps. These lamps, if not properly disposed of, can leach mercury into our groundwater. Mercury lamps are found in laptops, scanners, copy machines and flat screen monitors and TV’s. In 2005, of the nearly 2 million pounds of e-waste that were disposed of in the United States less than 20% were recycled. Photo: Electronic waste dumped in residential area just outside of Alaba market in Lagos, Nigeria. © Basel Action Network. |
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Research estimates that electronic waste accounts for 80 percent of American’s toxic garbage and is growing exponentially. Electronic waste contains is a toxic threat to soil and water supplies worldwide. Guaranteed Recycling Xperts (GRX) collects, carefully disassembles and shreds or crushes material, and distributes the end product to certified downstream partners for reprocessing and recycling into new products or raw materials. While that may seem to be the expected definition of recycling, many recyclers do not invest in the labor and sourcing required to ensure it takes place. The sad reality is that less than 15% of e-waste material actually finds its way into new products in the form of recycled material and the rest is dumped in landfills or shipped to other countries where lead, cadmium, mercury, and other hazards end up poisoning air, soil, and water supplies. Improperly handled toxic waste then ends up in toys, food, and other global supply chains.
GRX invests in the labor-intensive process of de-manufacturing to divert greater than 95% of materials from landfills and incinerators. GRX guarantees it does not export hazardous waste material; it does not landfill or incinerate hazardous waste material. GRX is a responsible steward
of the environment.
Where does it all go?
We work with carefully selected downstream partners that prepare the material we send them for reintroduction into manufacturing processes. We can provide full documentation about our partners’ processes. For a summary, click here.
Is it illegal to dispose of electronics in landfills?
In many states, electronics are classified as hazardous waste, so local regulations dictate that any electronic waste from non-residential sources (businesses, government agencies, etc.) cannot be disposed of in solid waste landfills. Electronic waste must be disposed of at a hazardous waste facility or recycled. Please see your state’s Department of Public Health and Environment’s website for more information.
Why can’t I discard old electronics with the rest of my trash?
Electronics contain pollutants such as lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, phosphorous, lithium, and polycarbons. Electronics that are dumped in the trash often end up in landfills, where these substances can leach into the groundwater and soil. Flame retardant chemicals in computer plastics can release highly toxic dioxins when burned in trash incinerators.
What are the benefits of recycling versus resale?
If a computer is working, then it’s still useful, right? Although resale and resuse is sometimes an option, in most cases the current pace of technology has rendered many working systems obsolete. Resale and donation simply pass the disposal problem to another party, often someone less
well-equipped to deal with it properly. The Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment even warns on their website not to attempt
to "dump" your old, unusable equipment on these entities in an effort to avoid your own waste management responsibilities. Recycling equipment
is the best choice once it has reached the end of its useful life. It keeps toxic compounds out of our landfills and helps to conserve our
natural resources.
How do I know data on my computer or hard drives are securely destroyed?
Data security is an on-going concern for many individuals and organizations. When GRX receives electronics for recycling GRX doesn’t simply wipe data from hard drives, we physically destroy your hard drive by sending through our giant shredder. Since these materials are never sent to landfills, no one has the opportunity to grab a hard drive and access information. By completely de-manufacturing electronics and sending data containing devices through the shredder, no one can gain access to information that was once stored on the equipment.
What types of items does GRX recycle?
GRX recycles virtually any obsolete electronic. Batteries, cell phones, computers, DVD players, VCRs, stereo equipment, printer/fax machines, computers and laptops. We handle everything from large copiers to small PDA’s. We also accept small appliances and, generally, anything that plugs into the wall except refrigerators, freezers, or air conditioners. If you wonder whether GRX can recycle an item, just call us at 720-377-7700.
Do I have to pay for electronic recycling?
Sony, LG, Zenith, and Goldstar products are recycled for free due to our partnership with Waste Management, Inc.. Costs for other monitors and televisions range from $8 to $25 depending on the size. These fees are necessary to cover the labor and other costs associated with responsible recycling of leaded glass. For additional information please complete the price quote request in the Pricing section or call the GRX office near you. When bringing materials that have a recycling fee please remember to bring a check or cash only. We cannot accept credit cards.
Why do I have to pay when recyclers sell the components?
When "recyclers" pay people to take their electronics or "recycle" them for free it is likely those materials will be sent to international brokers and dumped rather than recycled. It is estimated that up to 80% of the United States e-waste ends up being illegally shipped to developing countries
and creating health and environmental disasters. By investing in the labor-intensive process of de-manufacturing and redirecting all materials collected back into the manufacturing stream, GRX keeps toxic materials out of landfills and ensures over 95% of the waste it handles is recycled.
At this point, elements captured through the de-manufacturing process (plastic, glass, wire) do not generate enough revenue to cover the labor
costs for disassembly.
What if I have other questions?
Please call our toll free number (866-GRX-4920) or our headquarters office number (720-377-7700) and we will be happy to answer your questions!