What REALLY Happens To Our Old Electronics?

America tosses out tons of old electronics every year. Literally! Around 6.92 million tons in 2019 alone and a lot of that e-waste contains toxic chemicals, things like lead and mercury. If those are not handled properly, they can contaminate the environment and cause serious health issues... So what actually happens to all that hazardous e-waste? You might not like the answer...

**What is e-waste?
E-waste is basically anything with a plug or battery that you don’t want/ need anymore. It’s your old electronics. And the bad news is that a lot of that stuff contains toxic materials like lead, mercury, and brominated flame retardants. If this waste just gets tossed in landfills or burned in incinerators it can contaminate the environment and cause serious health issues. Smoke from burning e-waste is very toxic.

**What happens to our old electronics?
If you take your e-waste to a collection site or recycler, then those electronics are likely taken to a recycling facility and processed there. E-waste is tricky to recycle because there are so many different types that all contain a different mix of materials, some of which is toxic. At a recycling facility, it’s often sorted, and data is deleted from devices. Some devices or components can be refurbished or reused, while others will be processed. This can mean that parts like metals and plastics can be separated out, and then sold to smelters to go back into manufacturing. But, sometimes recyclers end up shipping old electronics overseas to developing countries– where they do not have strict environmental and safety standards. This exposes workers and the environment to those toxic substances, which has created massive environmental and health problems. The World Health Organization estimates that 18 million children work at these dangerous e-waste dump sites around the globe.

**What should you do with your old electronics?
Dropping your electronics off at an e-stewards certified recycler is one of the best ways to ensure your e-waste won’t go overseas and will be handled responsibly. E-steward-certified recyclers have pledged to not ship their stuff overseas, and handle the waste in an environmentally sound way. They have surprise inspections to make sure they are doing so.

What is a circular economy?
A circular economy is the opposite of designing for the dump. Instead of extracting raw materials from the earth, making something, and then dumping it when you’re done with it, you would reuse and recycle materials and use those materials in the manufacturing process so that you are generating less waste and extracting fewer raw materials from the earth. E-waste recycling is part of the circular economy.

SELECTED SOURCES
Staggering E-waste Statistics 2023 (Toner Buzz)

What is E-waste? (Global E-Waste Statistics Partnership)

The Importance of Cell Phone Recycling (Repowered)

Planned Obsolescence (Consumers International)

Children and Digital Dumpsites (World Health Organization)

A New Circular Vision for Electronics (World Economic Forum)

Global Transboundary E-waste Flows 2022 (United Nations)

00:00 Intro?
00:40 What is e-waste?
01:22 Why is there so much e-waste?
02:54 Where does all our e-waste go?
05:49 e-stewards recyclers and ERI
06:57 A circular economy
07:58 Solving the e-waste problem

#earthday #environment #ewaste

[AboveTheNoise]

Be honest - what do you do with your old electronics, and what do you think happens to your e-waste? After watching the video, what -- if anything - would you like to change? Let us know in the comments below!!

[GatorGoob]

The devices as services sounds like a good idea, but let’s not forget how companies like John Deere and Lamborghini have abused it to block repair and customization initiatives from owners.

[cportable]

I really appreciate the link to reputable recyclers. I have heard for years about the problem with polution from toxic recycling techniques mostly overseas, on tv and YouTube, but never was given something actionable to do at least my small part. Thank you!

[colingraham]

Watching on my IPhone 7 Plus! Planned obsolescence is so sad. I really think we need to be more concerned about these economic and environmental issues that will kill us instead of being distracted by trivial social issues.

[silent]

your videos really dont get enough attention, i agree fully

[snowmorepuns]

I've been struggling to find a place to recycle a lot of my old e-waste and I ended up going to Staples because it was the only place close to me that I could find. I'm glad I did now!!

[-........]

i still have all my old smartphones in a drawer

[ceciliaviridianacisnerosca]

I really love the way you concern about e-wastw.
It's a massive topic and everybody must be aware of this big issue and take action to minimize the problem

[brosch]

I think the ewaste problem wouldn't be so bad if electronics were just easier to repair and keep using. Most people don't buy new phones because they want to, but because their phone's performance begins to slow down over time from a degraded battery. Back in the day on an android phone, you could just pop the backplating off, replace the battery, done. But unfortunately, now they are just as tough to disassemble as an iphone. Louis Rossmann has years upon years of content documenting what Apple has done over the years to their macbooks to make them as tough as possible to fix for the average independent repair company. I don't think a leasing economy is the answer, because that's taking away all of the power from the consumer and entrusting the companies to make the right decisions...and who's to say that they will? Great topic though, hopefully we have a solution before too long.

[jd]

My previous motorized wheelchair, I couldn't get it fixed as nobody will touch one that is over 5 years old (mine was 11) I had to have "Got Junk" pick it up. I paid a special charge to have it disposed of "properly" which you can only hope they do. These days I always buy my updates to electronics used, swappa is a great place for mobile phones, I buy 2-3 yr old tech from eBay and resell what I replace there. It is a win/win/win - you save money buying used, you save e-waste, and you get a little money back selling yours.

[slicingonions]

Very interesting video, you deserved more attention on this one

[MsTwingo]

There’s also organizations like Labdoo that you can donate your computers/smartphones too (as long as they are still somewhat functional) and they will refurbish them and donate them to different projects around the world (mostly in Africa). Afterwards when they break they will take them back and properly recylce them so they don’t just land in a landfill in those poorer countries

[Handsap]

Love that guy screaming about recycleing

[beachboardfan]

If electronics recycling is so valuable, why do they charge you so much to take your e waste? Cost 30$ to dispose of my last tv. My hybrids nimh batt would've cost me over 200$ to recycle because the only ppl that would take it were in CA and shipping cost were not covered by the recycler, so now it just sits in a corner of my garage.

Politicians should probably regulate recycling before they force electric everything down the publics throat...

[GymGirl]

It is so important to recycle electronic waste. Especially because we actually need those materials. Rare earth metals are in short supply and if we don't recycle them they'll end up dispersed in the ecosystem at a concentration that makes it impossible to extract

[SeanKirkFlanagan]

Miles, what do you know about the "dangers" of refurbished tech?

[PotteryLife]

Letting you know in the comments below.

[PunkHerr]

Is there a European equivalent for the US certifier?

[mikecontreras]

Electronics as a service sounds terrible tbh, just another way the rich will keep us from actually owning anything and convince us we are happier because of it. We will pay more and get less.

[Stjaernljus]

a lot of things that are not broken or can be fixed in minutes at no material cost go to e-waste because people don't know or its easier to just buy new. recycling should be the absolutely last resort.