How can businesses dispose of devices in an environmentally friendly way?
What is WEEE compliance? Electronic waste (e-waste) is one of the fastest growing waste streams today, with the UK generating 1.7 million tonnes* per year. As our reliance on electronic devices such as laptops, desktops, mobiles, and office equipment increases, so does the importance of responsible IT equipment disposal in the UK. When devices become faulty or outdated, the vast majority are simply disposed of, adding to the mounting electronic waste (e-waste) in landfills. This creates even more WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment). Effective responsible IT asset disposal in the UK is crucial to reduce environmental impact and support a sustainable future. With rapid technological advancements, upgrading IT infrastructure, and increasing regulations on WEEE compliance, adopting eco-friendly electronics recycling solutions is more important than ever. If we don’t all start to reduce, reuse, and recycle electronic devices, this is only set to get worse. We all have a role in minimising e-waste in the workplace, supporting the planet, and reducing demand for resource-intensive manufacturing What do companies do with old electronic devices? According to Sue Owens, Head of Supply Chain Services at Wavenet: “There isn’t a single answer to the climate crisis, or how we can recycle our way out of trouble, but responsible electronic device recycling and secure data destruction are essential parts of the solution. We need to look at all methods of recycling. Even the smallest contribution in reducing e-waste in the workplace adds up to be part of the bigger picture.” Recycling old laptops, mobiles, and other IT hardware not only helps manage the rising tide of end-of-life equipment recycling but also ensures compliance with WEEE directives. Proper certified electronic waste disposal providers help companies turn obsolete devices into environmentally safe recyclables or components, reducing the need for raw material extraction. Sue continues: ”The more organisations recycle, the less we need to mine. While the mining industry is a major contributor to planet-warming emissions, it also holds the key to a net-zero future. We don’t need to extract more – we need less. As clean energy and EVs expand, the total amount of materials mined will actually decrease, and we can significantly reduce reliance on coal that still fuels the industry’s revenues. Less mining, more sustainability – that’s the future we must build. To make a difference, it’s up to organisations to recycle whatever we can; however, data destruction is critical to the security of your business. Compliance with the WEEE directive and recycling units back into the market, either as components, or broken down into their elements is a huge contributor.” How do businesses recycle computers and phones?
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