Is E-Waste Making Our Landfills Even More Toxic?

Is E-Waste Making Our Landfills Even More Toxic?

published
August 21, 2020
News

Even as we become more environmentally conscious and more people make a point of recycling their paper and plastic waste…a new pollution threat appears to be emerging. With electronic devices becoming more disposable—either wearing out or becoming outdated in a few years’ time—people are simply throwing their phones in the trash, leaving old TVs by the curb and so on. It may seem harmless enough, but it’s not. Experts now suggest e-waste, as it’s called, could be making our landfills even more toxic than before.

What makes e-waste so dangerous?

From TVs and clock radios to laptops and cellphones, nearly all electronic products contain toxic chemicals and metals like mercury, cadmium and lead. These elements are harmless inside your device, but when you dispose of it improperly, that device eventually makes its way to your local or regional landfill. Over time, these harmful elements make their way into the soil, and eventually into the groundwater, making it unsafe for humans, plants and animals. If most people realized the mercury in their cell phone could eventually wind up back in their water glass, they might think differently about how they throw these products away.

A Look at the Numbers

As more companies are “going green” and replacing their paper documents with digital ones, we’re disposing of less waste overall, which is good news—but it doesn’t tell the whole story. According to DoSomething.org, electronic waste only accounts for 2 percent of the waste in our landfills, but it also accounts for 70 percent of our overall toxic waste. In the U.S. alone, the amount of e-waste we create amounts to 44 pounds per person, per year! Globally, humans now dispose of 20 to 50 million metric tons of e-waste every year—all of it potentially toxic to the environment. And of this waste, only 15-20 percent of it is being recycled.

In other words, while we’re reducing our paper and plastic waste, we’re actually increasing our toxic waste through our disposable devices. By these numbers, the nuclear power plant in the next county isn’t nearly as much of a threat to the environment as that old iPhone you and 10,000 of your neighbors just threw in the trash.

What Is Being Done

Thanks to increased awareness of the dangers of e-waste, many state and local governments are taking steps to manage the problem. Pennsylvania, New York and other states have laws banning the general disposal of electronic devices. In Philadelphia, if you leave your TV by the curb, it stays by the curb—the trash collectors are forbidden to take it. While Massachusetts and Boston don’t have specific laws addressing e-waste, they do ban the disposal of “ferrous and non-ferrous metals” which are common in most electronics. Unfortunately, these laws are still difficult to enforce when it’s so easy for a small phone or tablet to be tossed undetected into a trash receptacle. As of yet, most cities do not have standardized e-cycling programs to deter businesses or individuals from keeping their devices out of the landfills.

What Your Business Can Do

The good news is that despite the lack of centralized e-waste control, there are a number of ways businesses can take responsibility for making sure their old electronics get recycled, repurposed and reused rather than adding to the toxic waste in their nearby landfills. 4THBIN works with companies strategically to create an IT product management cycle, making e-cycling a standard part of their electronics life cycle with zero negative impact on the environment.

Give us a call at 855-329-2531 to learn more!

Is E-Waste Making Our Landfills Even More Toxic?

 

More News

News

Celebrate Earth Month with 4THBIN

April is Earth Month, and at 4THBIN, we see this time as an opportunity to double down on our commitment to protecting the planet. E-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream globally, and it’s not just a tech problem. Improper disposal of old electronics can leak hazardous materials into the environment, while also posing serious risks to your data security.

News

Empowering Education Through Responsible E-Waste Recycling with 4THBIN

As technology becomes more embedded in the educational experience, it’s crucial for students to not only understand how it benefits their learning but also how it affects the world around them. E-waste, the growing amount of discarded electronics, poses significant environmental and health risks, particularly when not recycled responsibly. As future leaders, students have the opportunity to take action and drive change by learning the importance of proper e-waste recycling.

News

Falling in Love with E-Waste Recycling

Valentine’s Day is all about love - whether it’s for a special someone, your favorite dessert, or just a good rom-com. But this year, why not show some love for something that actually gives back? We’re talking about e-waste recycling - the secure, sustainable, and responsible way to part with your old electronics.

News

Celebrate Data Privacy Week 2025 with 4THBIN: Take Control of Your Data

Data Privacy Week 2025 is here, and it’s the perfect time to think about how we manage our data, both online and offline. The theme this year, "Take Control of Your Data," emphasizes the importance of understanding the value of the data we create every day. From browsing habits to health data tracked by apps, our personal information is constantly being collected. This data is valuable to companies, but the good news is you have the power to control how it’s used. At 4THBIN, we believe data privacy should be a priority not just for individuals, but for businesses as well - and it extends beyond the digital world to your old electronics. 

News

A Responsible Holiday Season - Secure Your E-Waste Before the New Year

While we’re busy decking the halls and making New Year’s resolutions, it’s easy to forget the environmental impact of all the electronic waste we generate year-round. With tech advancing faster than ever, devices often have short lifespans and are discarded in large quantities. 4THBIN is ready to help you responsibly close out the year and keep both your data and the planet safe!

Event

Join 4THBIN and PS 29 for a Spring Neighborhood Recycling Event
May 4, 2025
Drop-off Event

Join 4THBIN and PS 29 for a Spring Neighborhood Recycling Event

We're excited to invite you to a community electronic recycling event in partnership with PS 29! This is your chance to responsibly dispose of old or unwanted electronics - securely, sustainably, and for free.

Spring Into Sustainability: E-Waste Recycling Events in NYC
Drop-off Event

Spring Into Sustainability: E-Waste Recycling Events in NYC

This spring, 4THBIN is proud to continue our partnership with the Lower East Side Ecology Center to host a new season of free residential e-waste recycling events throughout New York City. These events are part of our 4THBIN 4ALL initiative, a citywide effort to expand access to responsible electronics recycling and encourage sustainable action in every neighborhood.

Recycle and Replant with 4THBIN
April 24, 2025
Drop-off Event

Go Green with Us! 4THBIN + 51 Astor Place invite tenants to a Recycle & Replant event at 51 Astor.

This Earth Month, 4THBIN is partnering with HqO to host a Recycle and Replant event for the tenants of 51 Astor Place. It is a simple and meaningful way to support sustainability by responsibly recycling old electronics and receiving something green in return.