Why Recycling IT Gear Isn’t Optional Anymore – It’s Critical
Every year, the world generates over 100 billion pounds of electronic waste—yes, 100 billion with a B. Yet only about 17% to 20% of that waste is properly recycled. That leaves 80+ billion pounds of electronics ending up in landfills, storage closets, or worse—illegally dumped or incinerated. In the United States alone, it’s estimated that 13.8 billion pounds of e-waste are discarded annually.
Let that sink in. We’re burying, burning, or abandoning billions of pounds of highly engineered materials, many of which contain toxic components and precious resources that could be reused.
What’s Going On?
So, why are we drowning in dead devices?
A big part of the problem is planned obsolescence. Many manufacturers have reduced their product life cycles—what used to last five years now will barely make it two. This means businesses and individuals are constantly cycling through electronics. The result? E-waste is now the fastest growing waste stream in the world, increasing by 3% to 5% every year.
Built to Last… In the Worst Way
You know how long a plastic bag can take to break down? Anywhere from 20 to 1,000 years. A plastic milk jug? Over 1 million years. Now think about the gear sitting in your office right now: laptops, monitors, keyboards, phones, servers. The glass on an iPhone screen could take 1 to 2 million years to decompose.
And the inside of a computer? Metals, plastics, rare earth elements—they’re not going anywhere anytime soon. An aluminum can can take 200 to 500 years to break down. A computer mouse, filled with plastic and circuitry, might outlive your entire bloodline.
The Environmental and Human Cost
Improper disposal of electronics doesn’t just clog up landfills. It can also leach harmful chemicals like lead, mercury, cadmium, and flame retardants into the environment, polluting groundwater and harming wildlife. Worse, some e-waste is exported to developing countries, where it’s dismantled in unsafe conditions, exposing workers and communities to serious health risks.
So, What Can We Do?
We can rethink how we handle electronics—especially in business settings where gear is replaced regularly. Here’s how:
- Recycle responsibly: Partner with certified IT asset recovery and recycling providers who ensure devices are processed safely and sustainably.
- Extend device life: Reuse and refurbish where possible. What’s outdated for one business may be a lifeline for another.
- Recover value: Electronics often contain components that can be resold or repurposed, turning what would be waste into new opportunities. Red Leaf is famous for finding value in recycled gear!
- Stay compliant: Proper disposal keeps your data secure, and your business aligned with environmental regulations.
At Red Leaf IT Asset Recovery & Recycling, we help businesses dispose of old tech safely, responsibly, and sustainably. From secure data destruction to resale and certified recycling, we’re working to keep electronics out of landfills—and maintain a circular economy.
Because when it comes to IT gear, out of use shouldn’t mean out of mind.