Electronics
Electronic Equipment Facts
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Electronic equipment contains a variety of hazardous substances that require special disposal such as:
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Cathode ray tubes and glass found in computer monitors and television screens contain large amounts of lead
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Circuit boards and electronic wiring contain lead, chrome and other metals
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Relays and switches can contain mercury
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PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) can be present in older, larger equipment, and can cause health issues such as endocrine disruption and neurotoxicity
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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
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Some materials can be recycled such as lead (Pb), silver (Ag), barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg)
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Most components involved in electronics manufacturing do not decompose in landfills, and won’t be destroyed if combusted in a waste-to-energy facility
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If electronics are disposed of improperly, the components can contaminate the environment
Electronic Equipment Management Strategy
Conducting a workplace assessment for electronics equipment management
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Survey the electronic equipment that your business uses
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If you have an equipment change-out planned, include that in your estimate
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Explore your recycling options
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Educate your maintenance and technical staff about how to implement the management strategy
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Inform them of the importance of recovering electronics
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Coordinate storage, packaging, and shipping logistics with appropriate staff (building engineers, information technology or audio-visual specialists, maintenance workers, custodial staff, etc.)
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Kick-off the management program with an informational meeting with participants to recruit their support
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Periodically review the program to evaluate its effectiveness and to make improvements
Safe Storage and Handling of Electronic Equipment
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.
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The EPA and DEQ recommend proper recycling of used electronics, especially since many of these items contain rechargeable batteries, which are universal waste
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A handler of used electronics should manage used electronics in a way that prevents releases to the environment
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Store electronics in a room with four walls, a ceiling and a roof, or in the cargo portion of a truck
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Anywhere that will prevent leakage or release to the environment
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Items in the storage area should be properly labeled
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Immediately clean up any spills or broken items and place materials in a container for proper disposal
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Companies, governments, manufacturers, and individual purchasers are responsible for properly recycling their discarded materials in a safe and environmentally sound manner
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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.
How do I dispose of my used electronic equipment?
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Businesses can start by developing a electronic equipment management strategy
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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
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Each manufacturer must have a recovery plan on file with DEQ to sell their products
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The EPA's regional eCycling Information* page also offers management strategies and solutions for electronics recycling.
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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
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Read TechSoup.Org's Ten Tips for Donating a Computer*
Before Donating or Recycling Used Electronics
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Consider upgrading the hardware or software of a device instead of buying a new product
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Delete all personal information from the electronics
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Remove batteries as they may need to be recycled separately
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Find a recycling facility
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Call2Recycle*, Earth911*, and the Consumer Technology Association* have recycle locators to help find locations that accept electronics