Can You Recycle All Electronics?

Technology evolves at a rapid speed. Electronic devices have become indispensable parts of our daily lives, from smartphones to laptops. These devices were originally supposed to last 40+ years, but the average lifespan of a new smartphone purchased this year will only be around 2.5 years. But what happens to these gadgets at the end of their lifecycle? Can you recycle all electronics, or are some destined for the landfill? Can You Recycle All Electronics? The short answer is no, you can’t recycle all electronics. While many electronic devices contain valuable materials like copper, gold, and silver, others harbor hazardous substances such as lead, mercury, and cadmium. Improper disposal of these toxic components can destroy the environment and human health. […]


Cell Phone Destruction through Ship N Shred

Old cell phones pose a risk of exposing personal and business information. Cell phones hold lots of sensitive information including login credentials, account numbers, contacts, and other data. Destroying your old phones is the only way to ensure that your data remains private. Cell phone companies and manufacturers may offer trade-in benefits for old phones, but often the benefit is not worth the risk. Factory resets have been proven ineffective at completely clearing your data. A study done at Cambridge University found that you can retrieve a phone’s master code 80% of the time after a factory reset. Hackers can use the code to access all of your “deleted” information to steal financial data and commit identity theft.  Why Should […]


How to Recycle Old Cell Phones

It’s no surprise that technology evolves at a rapid rate. As a result, we frequently find ourselves upgrading to newer and more advanced cell phones. While it’s exciting to have the latest gadgets, it’s equally important to consider what happens to our old devices. Discarding them in the trash can harm the environment. Unfortunately, it was estimated that 5.3 billion phones were thrown away in 2022. Knowing how to recycle old cell phones is a responsible and eco-friendly choice.  Before you retire your trusty smartphone for the latest model, let’s explore the path of responsible disposal and recycling. Your actions can make a substantial difference in preserving our planet for generations to come. In this blog, we’ll explore why recycling […]


The Current State of E-Waste Recycling Technology

The amount of E-waste the world produces a year is a staggering 50 million tons a year, and only growing. While that’s only a fraction of the overall waste the world generates, it makes up the lion’s share of toxic waste. As such, it’s more important than ever to produce effective and efficient e-waste recycling technology.  Much of the technology we use now involves older techniques, converted to e-waste recycling. Smelting down metal, using acidic solutions to break down components, shredding, and magnetizing. However, as the e-waste problem grows, so too are the solutions to it. Novel ideas are being pioneered to recover as much as possible from our discarded technology. Types of E-Waste Recycling Technology in Use  Pyrometallurgical Recycling  […]


The E-Waste Recycling Process

Every year, billions of new technology products are built and shipped out across the world. From laptops to cell phones to televisions, and more, it’s likely that you’ve purchased one yourself in the past year. Recycling the device it’s replacing is crucial, both for sustainability and environmental health. But what is the E-Waste Recycling Process?  The answer depends on the type of device, but, broadly speaking, the general process involves shredding the device and sorting its contents into component groups.  The E-Waste Recycling Process by Device Type  Cell Phones, Hard Drives, Computers, and Laptops  While this category is broad, the recycling process for these technologies tends to be the same. An e-recycler will pick up the devices from a drop-off […]


Data Destruction Certificate: What is it, and Why is it Important?

A data destruction certificate, also referred to as a Certificate of Destruction, is a crucial part of the technology destruction or recycling process. The certificate guarantees that all of the data on a piece of technology was properly destroyed.  With data breaches and cyber crimes on the rise, this guarantee is more important than ever.  What is a Data Destruction Certificate? The actual data destruction certificate differs based on the company doing the work. However, most follow the template set below. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides a framework for best practices in media and data destruction.  The certificate typically contains the person and provider performing the service, information about the type of media they’re destroying, a […]


Remote Work E-Waste: Sustainable and Secure Solutions

Remote and hybrid work launched as a grand experiment as offices closed down due to the pandemic. A few weeks out of the office turned into months and years. Now, for many workers, a remote or hybrid workspace is the new normal. While remote work was a success for many, it’s also created a new problem. E-waste from remote work is now piling up in concerning amounts.  Workers sent home often required new technology, or had to bring office equipment with them. With computer life cycles typically around 3-5 years, it’s more than likely that much of that equipment sourced at the beginning of the pandemic is reaching its end. And with workers reliant on well-functioning technology now more than […]


What Electronics Can Be Recycled?

Technology is all around us. Whether you’re at home, in the office, or even in a coffee shop, phones, computers, TVs, smartwatches, and more, surround you. All of these technologies have a shelf life. Most of them contain harmful chemicals, or valuable resources, that shouldn’t end up in a landfill. So what electronics can be recycled?  The good news is that you are more than able to recycle nearly all of these technologies. However, the process of recycling differs based on the technology.  What Electronics Can Be Recycled? Computer and Laptops  Nearly every type of computer or laptop can be recycled. In those computers, only 2% of the material can’t be recycled. For every computer recycled, that means that those […]