Electronic Equipment Facts

Electronic equipment contains a variety of hazardous substances that require special disposal such as:
- Cathode ray tubes and glass found in computer monitors and television screens contain large amounts of lead
- Circuit boards and electronic wiring contain lead, chrome and other metals
- Relays and switches can contain mercury
- PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) can be present in older, larger equipment, and can cause health issues such as endocrine disruption and neurotoxicity
- PFAS are often used in electronic manufacturing* and can cause negative health effects such as decreased fertility, developmental delays in children, cancer, reduced immune system, increased risk of obesity
- Some materials can be recycled such as lead (Pb), silver (Ag), barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg)
Most components involved in electronics manufacturing do not decompose in landfills, and won’t be destroyed if combusted in a waste-to-energy facility
If electronics are disposed of improperly, the components can contaminate the environment

Electronic Equipment Management Strategy

Conducting a workplace assessment for electronics equipment management

Survey the electronic equipment that your business uses
- If you have an equipment change-out planned, include that in your estimate
Selecting a contractor
Explore your recycling options
Educate your maintenance and technical staff about how to implement the management strategy
Inform them of the importance of recovering electronics
Coordinate storage, packaging, and shipping logistics with appropriate staff (building engineers, information technology or audio-visual specialists, maintenance workers, custodial staff, etc.)
Kick-off the management program with an informational meeting with participants to recruit their support
Periodically review the program to evaluate its effectiveness and to make improvements

From the Know Toxics Universal
Waste & Used Electronics Training Manual

This and other information on safe storage and handling of electronics can be seen in the Know Toxics Universal Waste & Used Electronics Training Manual*, pages 27-29.

The EPA and DEQ recommend proper recycling of used electronics, especially since many of these items contain rechargeable batteries, which are universal waste

A handler of used electronics should manage used electronics in a way that prevents releases to the environment
- Store electronics in a room with four walls, a ceiling and a roof, or in the cargo portion of a truck
  - Anywhere that will prevent leakage or release to the environment
- Items in the storage area should be properly labeled
- Immediately clean up any spills or broken items and place materials in a container for proper disposal
Companies, governments, manufacturers, and individual purchasers are responsible for properly recycling their discarded materials in a safe and environmentally sound manner
In the absence of federal and state oversight, a company may want to consider a recycler that participates in an independent certification program to reduce their liability

Additional Resources

*External link. The Northern Virginia Regional Commission does not author third party sites and their reference is for educational purposes only.

Storage and Disposal

Businesses can start by developing a electronic equipment management strategy
- Manufacturers that sell more than 500 units of computer equipment in Virginia are required to allow customers to return or recycle their equipment at no charge
  - Each manufacturer must have a recovery plan on file with DEQ to sell their products
The EPA's regional eCycling Information* page also offers management strategies and solutions for electronics recycling.
When changing out equipment, consider choosing a manufacturer or retailer that offers a take-back service. For more information, visit the Know Toxics resources page
Read TechSoup.Org's Ten Tips for Donating a Computer*

Consider upgrading the hardware or software of a device instead of buying a new product
Delete all personal information from the electronics
Remove batteries as they may need to be recycled separately
Find a recycling facility
Call2Recycle*, Earth911*, and the Consumer Technology Association* have recycle locators to help find locations that accept electronics

Resources and Regulation