Global E-Waste production has nearly doubled over the past 10 years, from an annual output of 33.8 million metric tons in 2009 to 55 million in 2019. This waste, ranging from batteries to computers, are toxic and hazardous, which often end up in the landfill. In fact, 80% of global E-Waste is not collected for proper recycling, the majority of them being batteries and small electronic devices. This, in turn, causes contamination of nearby air, soil, and water due to their acidic and toxic nature.

As a part of Teens Against E-Waste, the Jeffrey Trail Branch aims to collect batteries and electronic waste, as well as spreading awareness. To contribute and learn more, here's how you can help.

“E-waste” refers to any unwanted electronic device or Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) and is classified as universal waste. E-Waste frequently contains hazardous materials, predominantly lead and mercury, and is produced by households, businesses, governments, and industries. Because of this, E-Waste must be appropriately treated and recycled. From a study conducted in 2019, only 15% of common household United States Electronic Waste is properly disposed of and treated, leaving the rest of the E-waste to contaminate the surrounding enviroments.

When people first hear about e-recycling, they’re often surprised to learn that some of the key materials recovered from obsolete electronics are precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum. In addition to being able to sell these precious metals from electronic waste, they are being treated and recycled. Although the recycling journey from start to finish for electronic waste requires transportation, material handling, and skilled labor, the benefits of recycling E-Waste far outweigh the downsides.