Archive for the 'E-waste Removal' Category

Get Rid of Your E-Waste – why E-waste is bad and how to get rid of it

Published on July 12, 2011 in E-waste Removal. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .
You can’t just haul it out to the curb and expect it to get taken away by the city trash department. They won’t pick it up and you could get fined for leaving it out there. Electronic waste, also known as e-waste, poses a serious environmental hazard to us all if not disposed of properly. Landfills are already polluted from the mercury used in television and radio tubes from years past, not to mention the plastic that will never break down. We made them to last and that’s exactly what’s happening. They’re living on forever, buried in sand and soil that will never be useful for anything else again.
The disposal of e-waste is a rising dilemma in the United States and other developed nations. Unfortunately, as technology was developed in the 1950’s and 60’s, the disposal of that technology was never really taken into account. The wonders of modern science could never be replaced with anything more advanced, right? That was the philosophy back then. We were in a space race and everything was a miracle. Throwing it away or calling a junk hauling company for e-waste removal services were not thoughts that anyone entertained seriously. If they did, they didn’t have any support to act on them.
As the nation and the world entered the 1970’s, a new movement became popular – the conservation activists and environmentalists that are known today as the “green” movement. They instilled a sense of conscience in us that was never there before. Granted, it took decades before “recycling” and “carbon footprints” became trendy discussion topics, but the seed was planted during the post-war days after Vietnam. The peace movement, with nothing left to protest, began to focus their efforts on cleaning up the planet instead. Unfortunately, not enough folks listened to what they had to say.
In the 80’s and 90’s, more technology was thrown into landfills than had ever been seen before. The home computer was developed and then modified, over and over again. As processors got more powerful and units got smaller and more compact, the old went out with the junk removal companies and the new came into the home, only to be replaced six months later by something even newer. Desktops evolved into laptops, tube TV’s made way for flat screens and plasma, gaming companies came out with new systems every year. Consumers bought into all of it and e-waste continued to pile up.
Today, we have a serious problem. What we have thrown into our landfills is poisoning our earth, air, and water supplies. The new e-waste that is still accumulating can’t be put into the ground any more. It never should have been disposed of that way in the first place. Recycling is really the only way we can safely junk our old computers, televisions, and gaming systems. Does your junk removal company offer recycling? If it doesn’t, you need to find one that does – for the sake of our planet and our children’s future. Those are good enough reasons to make that extra call, aren’t they?
For the best in e-waste removal services, simply call Junk King at 1-800-995 JUNK or book a free on site estimate online.

Recycle Your E-Waste Today!

Published on April 4, 2011 in E-waste Removal, Green Junk Removal, Recycling and junk recycling. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

The Chicago Tribune recently published an interesting article regarding the status of electronic waste, or e-waste in this country. From the Tribune: “On average, each U.S. household has about 24 electronic gadgets, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. About 2 million tons of unwanted electronic items accumulate every year nationwide, but less than 20 percent is recycled, according to the EPA. The rest end up in landfills, where toxic materials such as lead, mercury and beryllium can leak, posing human health and environmental problems.”

One of the reasons why e-waste is such a prevalent problem lately is because of the tremendous pace of technological advancement. A five-year old computer is now considered outdated – although it might be able to do the basics like word processing it will probably have trouble trying to perform any advanced functions like playing movies, games or viewing high-bandwidth websites.

The same trend goes for printers, copy machines, shredders and televisions.  In fact, televisions are one of the largest sourced of e-waste as people toss out their old boxy sets for flat screen and HDTVs that are rapidly dropping in price.  This rate of technological progression, coupled with the round-the-clock marketing campaigns by manufacturers to ‘upgrade’ your electronics, has made e-waste the fastest growing portion of garbage in the United States.

This trend certainly isn’t going to slow down anytime soon either.  All signs point to a continued rate of advancing rate technology (as well as marketing), which translates to more and more e-waste over the next decade or so.  Although US local and federal agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency are pushing legislation to curb irresponsible disposal of e-waste, this simply won’t be enough.

People around the country need to take a stand and realize that e-waste ending up in landfills can dramatically affect the environment and eco-system around us.  The decisions that citizens make today will truly make a difference in the quality of life of the next several generations.

So what can you do?  Walk around your house and label all your old electronics with a post-it note.  These are the items that are sitting around, not getting used and are bound for the trash can or dump at some point without prior intervention.  On a weekend, gather all of these items and find a nearby recycling center that you can bring them to.

Don’t have the time or manpower to haul out these items?  Give Junk King a call at 1-800-995-JUNK.  Junk King will make sure to responsibly haul away your e-waste items by bringing them to the correct facilities.

Old TV Disposal – Let the Pros Handle the E-Waste

Published on March 2, 2011 in E-waste Removal, Recycling, TV disposal and junk removal. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .
Way back when, (actually just a couple of years ago) the first generation of plasma TVs hit the market and quickly became all the rage. They also came with a very hefty price tag. Even a small screen version would set you back around $10,000. Today, that same size television could be yours for less than a thousand dollars. How the times have changed!
The moment you unplug that old set to replace it with the high-grade, high-def set it has become e-waste. The “e” stands for electronic and the waste, well, you know what that means. There’s one thing about e-waste that not many people realize: it can be extremely hazardous. Yes, that little box that has brought you hours upon hours of entertainment can actually turn deadly if just tossed on a scrap heap. That’s why when it’s time for a new television, you should get rid of the old one the proper way with a company that specializes in TV and e-waste disposal.
Busting a television screen can release some noxious fumes. If those chemicals are inhaled or allowed to seep into the ground that’s going to be bad. This is why e-waste needs to be handled like the hazardous material that it is. You’re not in any danger from a television until it is busted open. Even without the bad chemicals, shards of glass and pieces of circuitry boards are extremely dangerous. This has become a serious problem for poorer countries that take the e-waste and dump in outside their cities. People then pick through the garbage looking for parts to sell themselves and they end up with some serious health concerns.
When you hire a licensed junk removal company they should be able to tell you exactly where your television is going to end up. You shouldn’t have to settle for “don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.” If you are getting rid of your television the right way, then it might also be time to go through the house and see what other e-waste could be disposed off. Old computers, monitors and even cell phones can all be put into the e-waste category. Basically if you had to plug it in to power it and now it’s broken then its e-waste.
Some people have tried putting old televisions on the street with a sign: “It’s free and it works.”  That might be okay for an hour. Any longer than that and you’ve got increased chances for sun damage, rain, dog marking or even a curious bystander knocking it over. Then nobody will want it and you’re right back where you started from. Do it right from the beginning by calling in the pros.

Junk King is on standby to handle all your old tv disposal and e-waste removal needs.  Simply call 1-800-995 JUNK or book a free on site estimate online.

E-Waste Recycling (E-Cycling)

Published on October 1, 2010 in E-waste Removal and Green Junk Removal. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

US representatives Mike Thompson and Gene Green recently introduced a new bill to the House of Representatives that is meant to curb the exportation of e-waste to developing countries around the world.   E-Waste, or Electronic Waste, means a variety leftover computer parts, screens, printers, and other electronic items that can be toxic when dumped into a landfill.  Not only is e-waste a problem in other countries, but a big problem here in the US.   Electronic items that are improperly disposed of can end up seeping toxic chemicals into our ground soil and elsewhere.

So, why is there so much e-waste around everywhere?  Just look at the rate that people replace the electronics in their home. People are constantly marketed to and sold on the newest and best electronic devices – from replacing their old boxy television sets with flat screen HD-TVs to getting the best sub-woofer stereo systems available.   Americans are typically very good consumers, which is one of the strengths of our economy.  However, big consumption also means a large volume of waste, especially when it comes to the rapidly expanding electronic industry.

So how can you prevent e-waste from ending up in the wrong place? Get in the habit of E-Cycling. First you have to figure out where the e-waste in your home or business is.  According to recent research, about 75% of e-waste is currently in storage.   That means the printers, VCRs, stereos, and fax machines that are sitting around your house.  Although they aren’t hurting anyone right now, if they aren’t dealt with in a responsible fashion they are more likely to get thrown out the wrong way.

Most people have a few e-waste ‘repositories’; places in their home where all of these old electronic items pile up.  It could be in your basement or garage, or up in the attic.  If you work in or have a business, e-waste items might end up in a storage room down the hall.

Recycling is the best way to properly dispose of e-waste.  The 3 R’s pretty much sum it up: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.   Reduce the amount of e-waste that you have by making sure your responsibly purchase good quality electronic equipment that won’t need to be replaced every two months.  Reuse your old electronic items that are still functioning by handing them down to someone else that could use them.  Finally, make sure that those electronic items that are beyond repair are properly Recycled.  This 3rd ‘R’ is the most difficult; many people aren’t completely sure how to recycle their electronics.

Beyond finding and taking your items to the proper recycling facility in your neighborhood, you can hire a responsible hauling company to handle those larger items.  Junk King has an expertise in properly recycling a variety of electronic items to make sure they don’t end up in a landfill.  Simply call 1-800-995 JUNK or schedule an free on site e-waste recycling estimate today.

E-Waste Removal and Recycling

Published on June 23, 2010 in E-waste Removal and junk removal. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

A recent Scientific American article reports that a staggering 70% of heavy metals that end up in landfills come from electronics that people throw out.  From Scientific American:  “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that Americans trash two million tons of unwanted electronics each year—six times the amount they recycle. To make matters worse, U.S. companies often ship old equipment to poor nations whose landfills and incinerators are ill equipped, subjecting already struggling populations to lead, cadmium, beryllium, and other contaminants.”

The problem of e-waste, or electronic junk, is a huge one.  We all know how it works:  you buy a brand new computer, printer, phone or device and before you know it, the item is outdated.  At the rate that technology is improving, we end up having to upgrade our purchases within a year or two of first buying.  What then?  Many people simply don’t know what to do with their e-waste, so they toss the items in the trash bin.   These items then end up in our landfills, slowly seeping deadly chemicals into the nearby eco-systems.

Some old electronic items in homes and offices are too large to get rid of and end up sitting around collecting dust.  Old-style computer monitors, processors and printers are fairly hefty and aren’t necessarily easy to haul out of the house.  In addition, to recycle e-waste, the items need to be taken to the right recycling facilities where the parts can be properly handled.
Office electronics are even larger.  Industrial printers and scanners are huge – they are incredibly difficult to get rid of and often end up in some back room within the office building.  As far as running a business goes, this use of space is inefficient and probably affecting the company’s bottom line.  This ‘back room’ could be cleared out and re-utilized as another single office where an employee could be more productive.

Whether you are a home owner or a business owner the same problem exists: efficiently getting rid of your e-waste, both with the purpose of clearing out unnecessary clutter as well as taking responsibility for our environment.   The solution to this e-waste removal problem is contacting seasoned junk removal professionals, like Junk-King.  Junk-King can handle your e-waste problem by efficiently and affordably hauling out your unwanted electronics.  Not only that, Junk-King makes sure to take your e-waste where it belongs – to the proper recycling centers.  With Junk-King, you’ll be sure that your old electronics don’t end up sitting in a landfill hurting our environment.