How Businesses Can Manage Their Electronic Waste

Offices and businesses are huge contributors to modern e-waste issues. There are more responsible ways to dispose of old electronics than adding them in with the weekly trash pickup. Find out how businesses can manage their electronic waste, and how your business can do its part to fight the e-waste problem.

Repair

Before you toss your electronics in the trash or find a more responsible way to dispose of them, try prolonging their use by repairing them. Whether you tackle the repairs yourself with DIY tutorials or schedule a repair at an electronics specialist, you’ll be getting more use and worth out of your electronics by repairing them. This gives you the most out of your investment and keeps unnecessary e-waste out of landfills.

Donate

The next best option to responsibly dispose of your electronics is to donate them. If you wish to upgrade your electronics that are still in working order, donating them is the best way to get more life out of them, even if you no longer need them. You can donate computers, speakers, keyboards, and other electronics that your business uses. Don’t forget about any old electronics that you might be storing or holding onto—these qualify as e-waste as well.

Recycle

When you can’t repair or donate your business’s electronics, the most responsible way to dispose of them is to recycle them. Your city may participate in an electronics pick-up or drop-off recycling program. If your area doesn’t participate in pick-ups, you can still find a location for recycling drop-offs. In fact, some big brand electronics stores even participate in electronics recycling programs and events. Check your local stores and city website to see if there are any local drop-offs in your area. If not, another option is mail-in electronics recycling, a program that the US EPA offers.

Before you donate or recycle any of your business’ electronics, make sure that you’re protecting your confidential information by keeping up with federal e-waste recycling standards. Now that you know how businesses can manage their electronic waste, your business can do its part to fight the e-waste issue.