As technology continues to progress, new items are added to the list of wastes that need to be managed by companies and individuals alike.  One of the newest items to hit the list is the plethora of devices that help increase our productivity, keep us connected and distract us after a hard day’s work.  E-scrap, or electronic scrap, is the latest group of waste to have its value recognized as a potential commodity rather than something to be landfilled.  While e-scrap represents a large gamut of products, they are all easily managed and markets exist to help companies accomplish this.

The first question that we should ask ourselves is “Why” do we need to manage our e-scrap?  The easy answer is that these items contain materials that can be harmful to humans if they enter our water or air and ultimately our bodies.  Some of the toxins include:  lead, mercury, molybdenum and a variety of petroleum based products that can cause sickness and other system disruptions if ingested by humans or animals.  The more complex answer is that electronic items contain components that can be used to create new items, computers can be reused by people who may not have one and an old cellphone can provide a lifeline to domestic violence victim or senior citizen with no other option.  These reasons should cause businesses and individuals to stop and think, “How can my e-scrap be used again?”  This thought process helps to determine the best method of disposal for e-scrap.  The final reason that e-scrap should be managed correctly is based on the articles that have been passed around the news over the past few years that focused on improper management practices.  There were areas in Asia and Africa where these items were dismantled by hand and increased the toxicity of the local environment through those practices in addition to making the workers sick.  Proper management of e-scrap allows for resources to be put back into the manufacturing stream or reused until their “end of life” has actually been reached.

Now that we know “Why” we should manage our e-scrap, we now need to focus on “How” we accomplish the task.  Since e-scrap management is relatively new for many states different programs exist around the country aimed on making e-scrap management easier.  Local governments tend to have options that are available to residents and in some cases small businesses.  There is a cost associated with the management of e-scrap; however, it is far below the costs needed to mitigate water or land if the toxic materials contained in the e-scrap enter our environment through improper disposal.

One of the easiest ways to manage e-scrap is through a dedicated reuse program.  This represents a great way to manage e-scrap such as computer systems or items that have been replaced by offices on a scheduled basis.  Reusing the computers through a donation program allows the company and the local community to benefit.  Typically this is handled through a local non-profit entity that can either use the computers in their own business, or have been set up to provide them to local agencies or families.  This option works very well on computers that still have a “life” left in them and are in good condition.  There are many non-profit agencies throughout the country that have this ability.  Utilizing this approach will allow the company to help the local community while also receiving a tax benefit in the process.  IN addition to any tax benefits received from the donation of the material, since the e-scrap is not being “disposed” of, there are no tip fees or management costs associated with the material.  Companies should be aware that much of that cost that is charged for e-scrap recycling covers the recycling of the monitor/CRT, which has a specific way it needs to be managed and limited disposal options/markets due to the lead that is used in their manufacture.

While most companies would love to be able to donate all of their items when going through an upgrade, there is always some material that is either out of date or broken and cannot be reused.  The correct management of these items will need to be through an e-scrap recycling program.  Companies have many options to get rid of their non-working e-scrap.  The first one is to check with their computer vendor about recycling options.  It is possible that the cost of recycling the non-working items can be included in the new purchase contract.  This is the easiest approach and many of the computer manufacturing companies have low/no cost recycling options available to customers purchasing new equipment.  A second option to consider is that several national retailers offer e-scrap recycling services for products that get dropped off at their stores.  A third option includes the company contacting their local solid waste agency for options as well.  Entities that offer commercial recycling programs for e-scrap will be competitive to the existing programs offered by manufacturers or retailers.  In an effort to keep e-scrap out of landfills and waste-to-energy plants, local governments may offer amnesty events aimed at commercial entities that collect this material for free or a reduced cost to their typical fee schedule.  While these events are primarily aimed at residential customers, small businesses are sometimes targeted and usually allowed to participate.

If your company generates a significant amount of e-scrap on a regular basis, the option that might best suit your situation is to contract with a company directly to manage this waste stream for you.  Often times, they will charge you a processing fee that includes the collection and certified disposal/demanufacturing of the e-scrap collected.  One way that you can mitigate e-scrap management costs is by separating out your valuable materials from the materials which need processing.  This works best if your company can dedicate resources or an employee to accomplish this prior to it going to your vendor.  As mentioned earlier, e-scrap represents some valuable resources that can be recovered and recycled.   Some of the “valuable” e-scrap includes cellphones, smartphones, laptop computers and ipods/iphones.  If your company generates any of these items and upgrades them as their technology changes, it is worthwhile to handle them separately from the other items in your e-scrap stream due to their potential to generate some value for you.  Keep in mind, that these items will only be valuable if the market deems them so.  Eventually these items will not have any value and be relegated to the rest of your e-scrap pile.  However, your vendor will be able to help you determine which things have value and this will work to reduce your bill.

E-scrap management is not going to go away as a part of the new waste management dynamic.  However it does not need to be a burden to a company.  Because e-scrap mismanagement can have broad reaching, detrimental effects on communities, many municipalities, counties and states have stepped up to offer solutions to the business community.  Including your local resources in your e-scrap management plan helps leverage the value of your items while helping the community and eliminating your “disposal” bill for this material.  Finally, working proactively with your end market and identifying those items which can reduce your overall management cost, is a strategy that businesses can aim for.  As we become more technologically integrated, e-scrap will continue to grow and always needs to be managed.  Thinking ahead when managing your e-scrap, will allow for your company to properly dispose of these items, keep them from harming our environment cleaner, and if you do it right, save you hard earned money.