E-waste (or electronic waste) is the term given to any electronic device at the end of its useful life. Materials such as glass, metal, plastics, steel and copper can be recovered from such defunct items as computers and laptops, VCRs and mobile phones. Electronic devices also contain recoverable materials such as gold, copper, platinum, silver, palladium, tin and zinc. All of these metals can be recovered and used in the manufacture of new electronics, jewellery and plating.
Real Waste Solutions provides a recovery service for all your e-waste. By providing a dedicated on-site facility for collection of your e-waste, we are able to divert potentially hazardous materials away from landfill and reduce the environmental impacts and energy demands from mining and manufacturing.
Electronic devices, once dismantled, can reveal a complex mixture of components, some of which are considered hazardous. Metals and chemicals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, beryllium, chlorine, bromine and phosphors can leak into landfill soils and then into the water table, providing a detrimental impact on the local environment if not correctly disposed of. By responsibly recycling your e-waste you can divert these toxic materials away from landfill and into useful recycled components.
What Can be Recycled as E-Waste?
Generally speaking, anything with an electrical cord or a battery can be classified as e-waste including:
What Happens to my E-Waste?
Once it arrives at our Collection Centre, the e-waste is manually sorted and assessed to determine if it contains any hazardous material. The various items are then de-constructed and sorted into specific material streams and sent to recovery specialists for remanufacture and reclamation of any useful components. Sometimes viable e-waste in good working order can be donated to charity or offered for sale at low cost to those in need.
