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Did you know that the average lifespan of an LED TV at maximum or close-to-maximum brightness is only 40,000 to 60,000 hours? For people who routinely leave their TVs for long periods of time, this means that you will probably be forced into buying a new TV at least every 4-5 years. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, then, that around 25 million televisions become obsolete every year in the United States, and around 68 percent of American’s have unwanted televisions or computers stored in their home.
The same can be said for used refrigerators, induction stoves, cameras, cell phones, laptops, microwave ovens, blenders, and the dozens of other types of electronics that are common in almost every household across the country. In fact, the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent stay-at-home orders even further increased the number of electronic devices that each household has. A recent study found that the average U.S. household now has about 25 connected electronic devices in the home, compared to only 11 in 2019. As more and more people work and study from home, and as 5G internet connection becomes standard in most households, the amount of electronics we consume should only consider to grow.
What exactly we do with those used electronics when they break down, become outdated, or go obsolete is unfortunately rarely considered by consumers. Below, we take an in-depth look at the growing problem of electronic waste around the country. We then look at some of the current legislation around electronic recycling in the Oakland and Alameda areas. Finally, we explain why Junk King of Alameda is the best option to help businesses and homeowners properly deal with their e-waste.
Problems with Electronic Waste
Most of us have little to no idea about the elements that make up the wires and connections within the electronics we use. Amongst those shiny metals, however, there is an enormous amount of potentially toxic substances that could end up polluting the soils, watersheds, and air quality in the communities where we live. Most electronic waste (e-waste) contains several toxic components that are dangerous to human and environmental health, including mercury, lead, cadmium, polybrominated flame retardants, barium and lithium. When sent to local landfills, these materials leach into the surrounding environment, thus becoming a serious threat to human health.
According to one recent estimate, around 40 percent of all the heavy metals in US landfills come from discarded electronic devices. Even back in 2014, Americans were throwing away an average of 416,000 cell phones each day. With limited regulation, electronic waste has quickly become one of the largest sources of environmental contamination around the country.
What´s even more unfortunate is the fact that almost ALL of the toxic substances and materials in electronic waste is completely recyclable! Unlike cheap plastics, the heavy metals and other elements in e-waste is extremely valuable. One study even found that the total value of raw materials in e-waste generated by Americans in 2019 was almost $7.5 billion! Recycling used electronics, then, could potentially be an extremely lucrative business while also reducing one of the most worrisome aspects of environmental contamination.
Despite the opportunities associated with recycling used and broken electronics, the state of California´s e-waste recycling rate is only 34.7 percent. Despite the fact that this percentage is higher than the national average, it still means that almost two-thirds of our used electronics eventually end up in landfills around the country. We are also significantly behind the state’s 2020 goal of achieving an electronics recycling rate of 75 percent.
What Does the Law Say about Electronics Recycling?
Most people don’t know that throwing used electronics into the garbage is actually illegal, according to California law. According to CalRecycle,
“unwanted electronic devices should be reused or recycled. Computers, monitors, televisions and other electronic equipment should NOT be disposed of with regular garbage; in fact, this is illegal in California. Functioning electronics can be sold or donated thereby prolonging their useful life. Nonfunctioning electronics that cannot be repaired should be recycled by an organization qualified to do so.“
In order to keep e-waste out of area landfills, the CalRecycle program provides a list of facilities participating in the Covered Electronic Waste Recovery and Recycling Program in Alameda County that you can find at this link.
Junk King Alameda: An Easier Solution for Electronic Recycling
Recycling our used electronics is not only mandated by law, but is also an essential part of doing our part to protect the environment and the health of our community. Unfortunately, recycling large electronics is not necessarily easy. While we might able to take an old cell phone to a recycling or donation facility, moving an old refrigerator, induction stove, or a massive 60-inch LED TV isn’t the easiest thing to do. Unless you have a strong back, a free weekend, and a large pickup truck to do the hauling, getting rid of larger electronics and appliances can be tricky.
Enter Junk King of Alameda. We are the leading junk removal service for individuals and business owners in the Bay area and provide junk removal services to several communities around the Oakland and Alameda areas, including residential and commercial service to people in Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Castro Valley, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Hercules, Newark, Oakland, Pinole, Richmond, San Leandro, San Lorenzo, San Pablo, and Sunol.
Our junk removal team has developed solid, long-standing relationships with several donation and recycling centers, including Goodwill, the Salvation Army, local homeless shelters, Habitat for Humanity and other. This allows us to ensure that all of the electronics that we haul away for you are either donated or recycled. In short, when your hire Junk King of Alameda for your electronics removal needs, you can rest assured that none of those electronics will end up in local landfills. This guarantees that you will be abiding by state laws regarding safe disposal of e-waste, while also helping you do your part to reduce the serious environmental contamination that occurs with improper disposal of used electronics.
Besides helping you safely and efficiently get rid of your electronic waste, we can also haul away used furniture, hot tubs, construction debris, used appliances, yard waste, and virtually anything else that is not classified as toxic waste. We are proud to say that we offer superior customer service, and we have dedicated staff waiting to answer your call and help you find an effective solution for all of your junk removal needs.
For online and text price estimates, we also make every effort to give you a response in 10 minutes or less. Fair and transparent pricing, quality customer service, and a sincere commitment to recycling or reusing at least 60 percent of the junk we pick up are just a few of the reasons that Junk King is Oakland and Alameda´s number one preferred junk removal service.
Simply call us at 1-888-5865(JUNK) or consider booking us online here. Again, we offer up-front pricing that will leave you feeling like the weight of your clutter has been lifted off your shoulders. Call us today to help get rid of your used and broken electronics in the most efficient way possible!
