Tackling the Recycling Crisis: Electronics Recycling is a Pivotal Step

The data is alarming, and the numbers speak for themselves. According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s March 2021 count, the United States is home to more than 2,600 landfills. To make matters worse, less than 35% of Americans currently recycle regularly…even though nearly two-thirds of American waste is actually recyclable. We’ve learned about the benefits and the absolute need for electronics recycling for decades. Unfortunately, simply learning about why recycling is important hasn’t been enough to tackle the larger crisis our environment faces or to encourage the majority of global citizens to recycle regularly. 

Fortunately, electronics recycling services offer an easy solution which could be a major boon in tackling the national and global recycling crisis.  

Consider these statistics from Pew Research Center (2021): 

• 97% of Americans own a cell phone (the vast majority of these Americans, or 85%, own a smartphone). 
• 77% of Americans own a desktop or laptop computer, and more than 50% own a tablet. 

Or, consider these numbers from techjury (2021) surrounding gaming and e-sports:  

• One-third of the global population are gamers. 
• Of these global gamers, 75% in the US alone play video games on their own at-home gaming devices (devices like PlayStation, Nintendo, etc.). Breaking this down even further, 74% of American gamers own a gaming console, 43% own a handheld device, and 29% own and use VR devices for gaming.  
• By the end of 2020, smartphones or smartwatches accounted for 50% of the gaming market.  

Lastly, According to Dimension Data, 51% – 63% of companies added or are adding small and large conferences rooms or huddle spaces outfitted specifically with collaboration technology to bridge the gap between in-office and remote workers. That means more than half of companies polled are adding telephone systems, cabling, monitors or TVs, computers, and more simply to connect in-office and remote or at-home employees.  

Clearly, Americans and global citizens are adopting and utilizing new technologies at increasing rates. And the numbers above only provide a small window into the multitude of electronic devices that are now ingrained in our day-to-day lives.  

So what becomes of the old? Right now, many consumers, employees, and business owners are unaware that they can recycle these products. If we all took the small step to recycle old electronics, we could take a major step together to limit what ends up in our landfills today, tomorrow, and for years to come.  

The good news is that e-cycling is easy and free or low cost. In fact, many large businesses that e-cycle can end up with value from their reusable equipment (meaning they will end up making money on their old electronics). Many certified e-cycling companies, like CompuCycle, offer residents and businesses free electronics recycling via electronic drop-off events, e-cycling drives, or even separate entrances/locations within a warehouse for ease!  

However, you’ll want to be sure that if you recycle electronics for cash, you do so with a certified and responsible electronics recycling company. As of January 2011, CompuCycle became the first Responsible Recycling (R2) Certified company in Houston, Texas. 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-recognized Responsible Recycling Practices Standard (R2:2013) certification is a set of voluntary principles and guidelines created to promote and maintain responsible practices for electronics recyclers. You can learn more about the R2 certification and CompuCycle’s multitude of additional certifications, which give our customers full confidence that their products are being recycled in a safe, secure, and environmentally responsible way throughout each step of the process by visiting CompuCycle’s Certification page.  

Imagine if we could make a small dent in the larger recycling crisis simply by taking advantage of annual, semi-annual, or quarterly electronic disposal routines with responsible recyclers. Finding a qualified, certified, and environmentally responsible recycler is often as easy as a quick Google search! Fortunately, our team at CompuCycle is here to help Houston, Texas, area business customers and corporations across the United States tackle the recycling crisis one electronic device at a time! Begin your company’s electronics recycling journey today. Learn more about CompuCycle, Houston’s first R2 certified and woman-owned electronics recycler, or contacting a sales representative at 713-866-8026.