E-waste is growing rapidly and its rapid increase can be a severe loss of mankind. It contains different harmful chemicals as it is primarily composed of precious metals like aluminium, copper, silver, gold, palladium, plastics and other ferrous metals. Metals are found the most harmful materials in e-waste, which produce dangerous fumes when disposed of. These fumes are proved harmful for health, agricultural purposes and marine life. Moreover, other toxic materials like lead, cadmium, mercury and chemical flame retardants can easily leach into our soil and water making it infertile.

In 2003, the Electronic Waste Recycling Act established a funding system for the collection and recycling of certain electronic wastes. Key elements of the Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 include the collection of an electronic waste recycling fee at the retail point of sale of covered products and requirements on manufacturers to provide consumer information regarding recycling opportunities. The intent of this program is to make recycling options for consumers more convenient so products containing toxic compounds are disposed of appropriately.

Computer monitors and televisions with Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs) have been deemed hazardous waste by the California Department of Toxic Substance Control and, therefore, cannot be disposed of in a landfill. Each CRT contains 5 to 7 pounds of lead, as well as cadmium, silver, gold, and other heavy metals and toxic compounds. Lab studies have shown the potential for these compounds and elements to leach out of the computer equipment into the landfill’s outflow and cause groundwater contamination.

Consumers and businesses are responsible for ensuring that all personal data is removed from their electronic devices prior to bringing them to one of our drop-off locations. If you are unsure how to do this, contact your manufacturer for more information. While EPRA Manitoba requires that all of our recyclers protect data on electronic products from unauthorized access or theft, it is your obligation to protect your personal information. Recycling Villa does not accept liability for data or any other digital content that is left on electronic products collected at our drop-off locations.

Recycling Villa manages end-of-life electronics according to the highest environmental standards at every stage of the recycling process. Once collected and sorted, items are sent to an EPRA-approved recycling facility for dismantling and the removal of any substances of concern for proper downstream management. All other materials are separated into different streams to recover such parts as metals, plastics and glass so they can be processed into new products.