WHAT IS E-WASTE?
E-waste is electronic waste. It is all those unwanted, unused or discarded electronic devices and equipment that business no longer need. Many small and mid-sized businesses like yours are unsure of what to do with it. Paralyzed by fear of data leakage and environmental concerns, much of it becomes stockpiled in basements or storage closets. At Progressive Computing, we call this The Boneyard.
WHY IS E-WASTE A PROBLEM?
For many decades E-waste has become a major environmental problem because no one really thought about how to process it properly. Unlike traditional waste, you simply cannot burn or bury it. Electronics are chock full of caustic and dangerous chemicals including arsenic, mercury, lead and cadmium to name a few. When burned, the PVC plastic found in most computers emits a harmful compound known as Dioxin. All of these hazards are known to cause cancer, respiratory illnesses and reproductive problems. They are particularly dangerous because of their ability to traverse great distances through air and water systems, and are toxic even in small amounts. Burying them is also a problem because ground water will leach these harmful chemicals into soils and eventually will make their way into our drinking water.
