What Is Computer Waste? Types, Mistakes & Recycling

Electronic waste, also known as e-waste, refers to obsolete electrical or electronic devices. eWaste contains old and damaged laptops, computers, monitors, networking equipment, printers, storage devices, and IT peripherals. New technologies encourage businesses and consumers to replace computer systems frequently. This rapid replacement of IT equipment generates massive computer waste annually.

In 2022, the volume of global e-waste was 62 million tonnes, an increase of 82% from 2010. This large volume of e-waste would fill 1.55 million 40-tonne trucks, enough to circle the equator bumper-to-bumper. 

Computer e-waste includes hazardous substances like mercury, lead, and cadmium. The improper disposal of old computers can release toxic materials that can contaminate water, soil, and air. Professional recycling of computer waste can conserve resources, minimize environmental damage, and encourage sustainable technology use. 

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of computer waste types, causes, impact, and disposal solutions. 

What is Computer Waste?

Computer waste includes any obsolete, unwanted, discarded, or damaged IT equipment. In computer e-waste, there are several toxic materials that can threaten human health and the environment. 

Hardware Waste 

• Desktop systems and Laptops 

• CPUs and RAM

• Motherboards, processors, and hard drives 

• Monitors and power supplies

• Graphics cards and cables 

These items contain circuit boards, metal, and plastic that are harmful to human health and the environment.

Accessories or Peripheral Waste 

• Keyboards and Mic

• Scanners, printers, and projectors 

• Webcams and speakers 

Storage Media E-Waste

• Hard disks and SSDs

• Memory cards and USB drives

• CDs and DVDs 

  
  

These items contain magnetic and metal components that pose environmental hazards and privacy risks.

Types of Waste Computers Generate 

A computer system generates three types of waste throughout its lifecycle as follows:

Manufacturing Waste 

Resource extraction waste

The new computer systems need a large volume of metals and materials for circuits and semiconductors. Mining activities to extract new metals and rare earths result in pollutants, tailings, and land disruption. 

Chemical waste 

Computer assembly and chip fabrication involve gases, solvents, and chemicals. These substances generate hazardous by-products and contaminate the air, soil, and water. 

Water waste 

A large quantity of ultra-pure water is needed to produce semiconductors. This needs a volume of water to be extracted and pumped to the production line. Moreover, the water used in the production of semiconductors becomes contaminated and needs to be treated before release into nature to minimize the impact on the environment. 

Packaging waste 

Computer systems generate packaging waste such as foam, plastic, boxes, and wraps. This means a large volume of these packaging materials ends up in landfills. According to ourworldindata, packaging accounts for 37% of total plastic waste in the United States.  

Operational Waste 

Energy consumption 

Computers need continuous electricity to power the monitor, processors, storage devices, and cooling systems. This energy consumption and electricity production contribute to carbon emissions. 

Heat waste 

The computer components, such as processors and cooling fans, produce heat. This adds to environmental damage and impacts the natural ecosystem. Moreover, HAVC and cooling systems are needed to manage the heating components, and this generates additional energy waste. 

End-of-life Waste 

Hazard waste 

Computer hardware, peripherals, and storage media contain toxic materials such as cadmium, lead, and silver. The improper disposal of computer systems can release these dangerous materials into the environment, posing a health risk to humans.

Plastic waste

Computer components and parts are made from various plastic materials. These plastics are slow to degrade and release harmful chemicals into nature as they decompose. It is estimated that plastic takes 20-500 years to decompose and never fully dissolves.  

Metal waste 

Computers contain metals such as gold, copper, and aluminum. These metals must be fully recovered through recycling to avoid resource loss and reduce the need for mining. 

Glass waste 

The monitor screens and display panels include glass. This specialized glass contains heavy metals and can harm the environment. Therefore, professional recycling is needed to properly dispose of the glass. 

Electronic component waste

Circuit boards, capacitors, resistors, and other small components are made from complex hazardous materials and require specialized recycling processes.

Computer Waste Mistakes 

Throwing computers in the trash 

One of the key mistakes in computer waste is disposing of old hardware, accessories, and storage drives in the trash. This practice contributes to landfills and sends toxic materials into the air, water, and soil. This practice is illegal in many jurisdictions and results in fines and legal problems. 

Incomplete data destruction 

The deletion of files and formatting a hard drive does not permanently remove data. Recovery tools can retrieve information that is not properly sanitized, exposing businesses to data breaches and compliance issues. 

Ignoring equipment value 

Many businesses discard computer systems that have monetary value. These systems can be sold through a buyback program to recover costs for new systems. Moreover, these systems can be donated for refurbishment so that they can be reused. 

Selecting uncertified recyclers 

Unlicensed recyclers create legal and environmental risks. These operators improperly dispose of computer waste and fail to recover hazardous materials and dispose of sensitive data. 

Delaying disposal 

One of the major mistakes is delaying the disposal of old computer systems. Many businesses hold outdated systems for a long time in basements and storage rooms. This increases the data security risk and chances of hardware deterioration. 

By delaying disposal, businesses miss the opportunity to recycle, repurpose, or donate equipment that still has value. Timely disposal through certified e-waste recyclers helps to recover materials, increases the lifespan of IT assets, and reduces the environmental impact of e-waste. 

Computer Waste Disposal 

Computer waste disposal is a process of discarding old computer systems, such as damaged, outdated, or obsolete hardware, legally and securely. Improper disposal, such as throwing computer parts in landfills, can contaminate water, soil, and air. 

Professional computer waste disposal services include:

• Collecting and packing hardware, accessories, and transportation.

• Proper dismantling and secure data destruction.

• Recycling computer materials and components. 

• Secure disposal of non-recyclable items so that nothing ends up in landfills.

A professional waste disposal service employs a range of data destruction and waste disposal techniques to manage computer waste:

• Using multi-pass overwriting to erase data. 

• Applying the degaussing technique to destroy data on magnetic storage media.

• Physical shredding of storage devices and circuit boards. 

• Crushing to deform devices to make them unusable.

Computer Waste Recycling 

Computer waste recycling involves breaking down discarded computer hardware, peripherals, and storage media into reusable materials and components. It is a legal and environmentally friendly approach to disposing of computer waste. 

The recycling process separates metals, plastics, and hazardous substances. Recycling computer waste conserves natural resources and prevents pollution by keeping valuable resources in circulation. A systematic approach to computer waste recycling includes: 

• Collection and sorting of components based on type, condition, and reusability.

• Assessment of potential components for resale and refurbishment. 

• Certified data sanitization process to wipe all data.

• Disassembling the computer waste into parts. 

• Separation of materials to recover valuable metals and components through a specialized process.

• Valuable metals like gold and silver are extracted, and non-recyclable items go to waste.   

Computer Waste Facility 

A computer waste facility, also known as an ITAD (IT Asset Disposition) or e-waste management center, is a specialized facility to handle e-waste responsibly. A modern e-waste facility has six important features to legally and securely recycle the computer waste. 

• Secure Receiving Areas: This includes a controlled and secure access point to receive shipments. 

• Data Wiping Stations: Specialized software and systems to wipe the storage devices.

• Testing and Repurposing Area: Areas for assessing equipment functionality and refurbishing the unit for reuse.

• Dismantling and Material Processing Stations: Designated areas where computer components are disassembled carefully, and specialized equipment is used to process materials. 

• Secure storage: A secure area to store the computer systems that are still awaiting processing. 

Zero Landfill Commitment 

A facility with a zero-landfill commitment ensures that materials are recycled or recovered, or disposed of using legal and safe recycling methods. 

Facility certification and standards 

The facility must have R2 recycling standards, focusing on data security and environmental protection. Moreover, a good computer waste management facility has ISO 14001 certification. 

How to Handle Computer Waste

Computer waste management requires a combination of professional disposal and recycling practices. The two recommended approaches to managing computer e-waste are as follows.

Certified IT asset disposal services or e-waste recyclers

A certified computer waste recycler ensures that computer materials and components are properly dismantled and processed. For example, Atlanta eWaste Solutions offers full-service for IT asset disposal (ITAD), secure data destruction, e-waste recycling, and even buys back IT equipment. Such professional disposal services ensure that hazardous materials are handled properly and hazardous materials do not end up in landfills. 

Reuse, refurbish, or donate

Many old computers can be refurbished for secondary use at schools and nonprofits. Donating or selling old systems can extend the lifespan of computer systems. 

One major concern with discarding an old computer is data privacy. Secure data wiping and destruction, using Department of Defense (DOD) recommended software, prevents sensitive information from being exposed. Atlanta eWaste Solutions ensures secure data wiping and destruction to prevent privacy and security risks. 

Conclusion 

In today's digital age, computer waste is a by-product of technological advancement and represents one of the most pressing environmental challenges. A strong understanding of types, issues, mistakes, and partnering with a certified recycler presents the prospect to transform environmental problems into opportunities for resource recovery and sustainability. 

Every computer provides an opportunity to return valuable materials to the supply chain, minimize pollution, and keep hazardous substances out of the environment. Computer waste can be minimized through improved recycling and responsible disposal. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is computer e-waste?

Computer e-waste refers to old, damaged, and discarded equipment such as laptops, desktops, monitors, keyboards, hard disks, printers, and accessories. These items contain valuable metals such as gold and silver, but also hazardous materials such as lead and mercury. This computer e-waste needs proper disposal and recycling to prevent environmental damage and minimize impact on humans and the environment. 

What are examples of computer e-waste?

The examples of computer e-waste include damaged or obsolete desktop systems, laptops, printers, graphics cards, hard disks, power supplies, monitors, and storage devices. Any IT equipment that has come to the end of its life qualifies as computer e-waste. 

What is computer e-waste management? 

The rapid changes in IT technologies mean that old computers or hardware quickly become outdated and useless. Computer e-waste management involves a process of collecting, dismantling, recycling, and disposing of old and obsolete computer equipment. This includes secure data destruction, separation of materials and components, and recovery of reusable metals. This computer e-waste management aims to minimize pollution and maximize resource recovery. 

What materials are recovered in computer waste?

The range of materials and components recovered from computer e-waste is as follows:

• Metals: Gold, silver, aluminum, and steel 

• Glass: Display panels and screens

• Plastics: Cables, casings, and connectors

• Electronic components: Capacitors, chips, circuit boards, and resistors. 

• Hazardous materials: Lead, mercury, and cadmium

Where can I recycle computer e-waste in Atlanta? 

Computer e-waste can be recycled in Atlanta through certified recyclers such as Atlanta eWaste Solutions. The business offers secure data destruction, obsolete computer waste pickup, and recycling of computer waste legally and securely. With a zero landfill policy and buyback program, Atlanta eWaste Solutions handles computer waste safely and sustainably, minimizing the impact on the environment and maximizing resource recovery.