Have ever looked around when you’re out in public and thought that just about everyone seems to own a cell phone? And, if you have to commute in or near the greater Washington DC area, you probably notice that there are also multitudes of laptops and tablets out there, too. When people upgrade and replace their existing electronics, they will need to dispose of their old electronics. An e-waste removal service is critical to ensure these items are properly disposed of, especially if you are a business.

According to Wikipedia, 

“The Washington D.C. metropolitan area is one of the most educated and most affluent metropolitan areas in the US. The metro area anchors the southern end of the densely populated Northeast megalopolis with an estimated total population of 6,216,589 as of the 2017 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, making it the sixth-largest metropolitan area in the nation.”

And the Pew Research Center adds that the vast majority of Americans – 96 percent – now own a cellphone of some kind.

“Along with mobile phones, Americans own a range of other information devices. Nearly three-quarters of U.S. adults now own desktop or laptop computers, while roughly half now own tablet computers and roughly half own e-reader devices.”

So, what happens to all these electronic devices when they stop working or become outdated?

Not to mention the wide variety of other electronics in our homes, offices, schools, hospitals, and other places – all the items that are known as “e-waste” or electronic waste when disposed of. And we continue to generate record numbers of tons of the stuff!

A report on global e-waste disposal from last year revealed that the year 2019 set a record for the amount of e-waste generated worldwide. It was determined that 53.6 million metric tons of discarded phones, computers, appliances, and other gadgets were disposed of in some form or another. 

Unfortunately, it was also found that only 17 percent of that e-waste was known to have been recycled. The vast majority of it – 83 percent – was either sent to a landfill, incinerated, or shipped somewhere to illegal international e-waste dumping grounds.

What Are You Supposed to Do with E-Waste?

You may be wondering what’s so special about waste electronic items, or e-waste? Aren’t they just collections of plastic, glass, and metal?

Those are fair questions since, on the surface, most electronic devices and components seem to be harmless. Why not just throw them in the garbage? The fact is that, before they are disposed of, most all electronics are harmless. 

According to one source,

“The EPA (federal Environmental Protection Agency) has dumped electronic waste into a special category of materials dubbed ‘universal waste‘. The category includes any material that would usually be deemed hazardous waste, but presently the hazardous substances are contained within and pose no immediate threat.”

However, once those e-waste items end up in a landfill, their status changes.

“Universal waste is considered hazardous once electronics disposal has been carried out, and particularly so if the final disposition ends up in a landfill. What happens when electronic gadgets (from batteries to phones to computers and more) sit in a landfill for a prolonged period of time is that the chemicals in them start seeping into the ground and water resources.”

These chemicals include mercury, lead, and dioxins. And, depending on the component, there can be a mixture of other hazardous waste products such as arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, selenium, and PCBs.

All these by-products of e-waste can have toxic or corrosive effects on living things, such as humans, animals, and plants. 

Because of this, depending on where you live, throwing away your electronics might be illegal. Take California, Illinois, New York, and North Carolina, for example – these are states that have added electronics to the list of items that are banned from going into landfills.

As of a few years ago, 25 states and Washington DC had electronics recycling laws, most of which are producer responsibility statutes.

For District residents, ZeroWaste DC notes that,

“HHW (household hazardous waste) should not be put in trash or recycling containers for DPW to collect, nor should they be included with items for bulk trash collection.”

While there are options provided by some municipal agencies for e-waste drop-off days, you still have to do the hauling and dropping off, and only on the days and times dictated by the public works agency. 

If only there were a more flexible, convenient, and reliable option for e-waste removal services in Washington DC and the surrounding area.

Good news! You can take care of your e-waste removal with one call to Junk King Washington DC.

E-Waste Removal Should be a Green Activity

Because Junk King Washington DC is a proud participant and supporter of green junk removal and disposal, green e-waste removal is a natural part of the business. As we like to point out, we recycle up to 60 percent of everything we collect to keep landfills down and communities clean.

And Junk King Washington DC is proud to be part of the greenest junk removal service in North America.

Junk King pioneered recycling-based junk removal when it started back in 2005 and we’ve pursued that mission ever since. Even e-waste materials are sorted for metals, glass, plastics, and reusable electronics in our recycling warehouses.

At Junk King Washington DC, we share the concern for our environment, which is why we remain committed to keeping as much junk as possible out of landfills.

>>> E-Waste Recycling Methods Infographic <<<

Junk King Washington DC: Fair and Transparent Pricing for E-Waste Removal

Great customer service comes naturally for the Number One junk removal service in the industry, and we work hard to keep it that way. And, in addition to great service, we offer the best pricing for junk removal in our service area, as well.

That includes such fine communities as Largo, Kettering, Coral Hills, and Morningside.

At Junk King Washington DC, we guarantee to beat any written estimate from any comparable operator. By that, we mean a junk removal company that is licensed, insured, and fully committed to being a recycling-based operation like Junk King.

Not only do we offer you fair, transparent pricing, but we also give you four different ways to obtain an estimate:

• On-site is the best and most accurate way for us to assess the job and offer you the lowest price is free, no-obligation on-site estimate.
• Call us at 888-888-JUNK or live chat with our highly trained customer service representatives.
• Text us with a photo of your items at 737-888-5865, and we will text you back with an estimate.
• Online estimates can be had by clicking the “Pricing” tab in the navigation above, then scroll to pricing estimator, enter your zip code, and choose estimate “By List Item” or “By Truckload.”

Getting Rid of E-Waste in the District with Junk King Washington DC

You can be assured that you’ll be getting world-class, efficient, and eco-friendly e-waste removal service when you call Junk King Washington DC. And even better than our renowned service is the benefit of not having to do it yourself.

Our professional and experienced junk removal team will carefully remove and haul off any other types of junk you have except hazardous waste. And remember: your e-waste is not considered “hazardous waste” unless it ends up in a landfill, incinerator, or waste transfer station. 

Not only are we part of one of the nation’s largest and most respected junk removal firms, but we are also proud of the fact that our Junk King Washington DC location is 100 percent veteran-owned and a truly local business.

Along with maintaining a green and eco-friendly operation, our passion is providing outstanding service to our neighbors that live in and around Washington DC.

So, ready to get rid of your old e-waste? It’s as simple as 1, 2, 3. 

All you need to do is make an appointment with us by booking online above, or by calling us at 1.888.888.JUNK (5865).

Our professional and insured e-waste removal team will show up at your home or office and we’ll call 15 to 30 minutes before we arrive. Once there, we’ll give you a free estimate based on how much room your junk takes up in our truck.

You simply point, and we’ll load your old junk items into our big, red, clean junk removal trucks and haul them away – and all with no hidden fees!