E-Waste? What Is It? 

Waste has become so ubiquitous in our society that most people don’t think twice about throwing something in the trash. While sending some items to the landfill makes sense, there are plenty of items that end up in the landfill that could have been recycled. E-waste is a perfect example. At Belson Steel, we are passionate about responsible recycling and diverting recyclable materials from the landfill. Here’s what you should know about e-waste and our e-waste recycling program—

What Is E-Waste?

E-waste, or electronic waste, refers to all types of electronic products that have reached the end of their useful life and are no longer usable. E-waste can include things like cellphones, CD players, VCRs, microwaves, radios, and any other type of consumer or business electronic equipment. 

Why Is E-Waste Hazardous?

Most people just throw away old electronics that are beyond repair or are obsolete. Unfortunately, sending e-waste to the landfill can be hazardous. This is because electronics are filled with chemicals and toxins that can leach into the water supply and cause contamination. Common contaminants found in e-waste include flame retardants, toxic metals, and organic pollutants. Another problem with sending e-waste to the landfill is that doing so takes up much-needed landfill space. As landfills fill, humans are running out of places to store trash. 

How to Recycle E-Waste

Fortunately, there’s a great solution to e-waste management: e-waste recycling. Recycling electronics that cannot be repaired is a great way to do your part for the earth and the health and safety of your community. 

While recycling is great, another thing to consider is reducing your generation of e-waste and reusing electronics that are still functioning by donating them or selling them.

At Belson Steel, we maintain a residential e-waste recycling program in partnership with the County of Kankakee. If you are a resident of Kankakee, you can bring your e-waste into our location for recycling free of charge. We accept computers, small servers, monitors, TVs, printers, fax machines, scanners, DVD players, video cassette recorders, video game consoles, cable receivers, and more. Call us directly if you have questions about what we accept. 

Call Belson Steel Directly for E-Waste Recycling Near You

Recycling your e-waste is an important piece of doing your part for the planet and your neighbors. To learn more about how to recycle e-waste and our residential e-waste recycling program, reach out to our team directly today or visit us in person. We are the responsible e-waste recyclers of choice!