Visit an IT Recycling Plant for Understanding electronics recycling!

Recycling is not something new, but many people still don’t know how the recycling process looks like and what kinds of activities are involved. This is especially true when it comes to electronics recycling. If you are interested in learning more about this useful process, then you should Visit an IT Recycling Plant for Understanding electronics recycling!

Many of the recycling plants are providing educational tours or even have special recycling discovery centers for visitors. Almost every IT recycling plant is focused on finding ways to change the perception of electronics waste or e-waste as some people call it. By learning more about the important of electronics recycling and learning how to reduce, reuse and recycle this type of devices and equipment, you will return home more knowledgeable about the effects of IT recycling on the environment. You will also become more eager to make a real difference in the world.

These educational visits in IT recycling plants are usually separated into three parts. The first one has guided group activities, discussions, and presentations. The main objective is to help people understand the effects that electronics waste produces. This part of the tour also teaches people what each of us can do in our home for recycling and how to reduce electronics waste. This is very important today when most people are throwing away their old electronics without thinking about the consequences. Many of them don’t know that electronic devices and equipment contain both harmful and useful elements and that only IT recycling plants can get the most from every device.

The second part of this educational tour is dedicated to the recycling process itself. This is obviously the most useful part of the tour because people can finally found out how this process looks like. They will get a chance to see what’s happening from the moment workers receive e-waste. Obviously, they will see how devices and pieces of equipment are disassembled. The knowledgeable and experienced workers will separate the elements into two categories – parts for reuse and parts for storing (dangerous parts). In addition, they usually separate the useful parts once again in groups depending on the nature of the material – metal, glass etc. The tour will also showcase how toxic elements like toxic metals are prepared and stored so they can’t cause any problems to the environment.

The final stage of the tour is the recycling games. Of course, this stage is reserved only for the children. Having fun while learning is probably the best way to make sure that the experience you had will be remembered for a long time. We must teach our kids about the importance of Electronic Waste Recycling and recycling in general.

It doesn’t really matter whether you are involved in the IT sector or not – you should Visit an IT Recycling Plant for Understanding electronics recycling. Electronics is everywhere around us and experts agree that this trend will continue in the future too.

What is considered “Medical lab waste”?

In many hospital and medical facility labs, there are a few kinds of laboratory processes that create certain types of waste. A well-organized and managed lab should identify and categorize different waste streams for better removal and processing. So, to put it simply, medical lab waste is all the waste created during lab activities in medical facilities.

Experts agree that there are three main types of lab waste – hazardous or chemical waste, regulated medical waste which usually includes biohazardous waste and non-contaminated waste (ordinary trash). It’s also good to know that waste created in different laboratory specialty areas is not the same. So, there is chemical waste created in a cytology lab and similar waste created in the histology lab. But, what is even more important is that in the recent period lab managers have witnessed the emergence of a brand new type of medical lab waste – electronic waste.

Medical lab e-waste is becoming a serious issue in many healthcare facilities. This is not a surprise because modern medical labs are relying on technology more than ever. While it is true that technology is very helpful when it comes to lab activities because it makes every process simpler and faster, it is also true that once electronic equipment and devices become obsolete they become a threat to the environment. Now let’s focus more on Lab Equipment Disposal.

In order to understand this waste, we must first name a few examples of this equipment – microscopes, centrifuges, mixers, analyzers, blood tube rockers etc. As you can see, all these devices are quite complex and include at least a few different pieces made of many different materials. Unlike ordinary medical lab equipment which usually includes materials like plastic, metal, and glass, these devices often contain toxic elements which make medical lab waste quite dangerous. Of course, when these devices and equipment are still in use they don’t represent any threat to the environment or to the people that work with them. However, once they become unwanted and obsolete (waste), they must be handled carefully. Namely, it turns out that when they are left in landfills, these devices and tools can easily deteriorate and release all the potentially hazardous elements they contain in the atmosphere. Elements like mercury, lead, cadmium and other toxic metals and elements can penetrate the soil, enter the waters and disperse into the air leaving devastating consequences to the environment.

Medical lab waste is a specific type of waste and the disposal of this waste and its handling is regulated by the law. This is especially true when it comes to electronic medical lab waste. The good news is that there are specialized recycling companies that can take good care of this waste. They have experience, efficient staff, and top notch equipment that guarantee smooth processing of any kind of medical lab waste regardless of the type. With the help of a company like this, you will know that the toxic elements are stored in a proper way and the useful elements are prepared for reuse. 

10 Common Misconceptions about Electronic Medical Waste

Electronic medical waste is not something new because hospitals, clinics, doctor’s offices and other healthcare facilities have used electronics in their work for many decades. However, in the last 20 years, there are two things that have changed. First of all, medical facilities today use much more electronic equipment than before and second, the disposal of unwanted and broken electronics is regulated by different laws and acts. In other words, electronic medical waste is something that everyone is treating carefully. Yet, many managers still have certain misconceptions about this waste. That’s why we have created a list of 10 common misconceptions about electronic medical waste.

1. I can put some pieces of electronic medical equipment on the curbside and it will eventually be recycled

In the recent period, there are many activities related to so-called curbside recycling, but if you think that every piece of equipment left on the curbside will be recycled, you are wrong. If this waste ends up in a landfill the consequences for our health and environment will be bad.

2. It’s difficult to locate a collection point

This is just an excuse for those who don’t want to get involved in electronic waste recycling. There are many collection points and you can find them online. In addition, you can also find a recycling company that offers free pickup services.

3. There is no need to pay money to leave my e-waste

It depends on the drop off site. There are commercial recycling programs that charge a fee for this activity, but there are a free drop off points too.

4. Electronic medical waste represents just a fraction of the overall waste in the world

While it is true that the percentage is low, this is one of the fastest growing types of waste and it is much more dangerous compared to general municipal waste.

5. Electronic medical waste contains only harmful elements

This is not true because this waste always contains useful materials including gold, palladium, silver and copper. They can be extracted and reused through the process of electronic medical recycling.

6. Most of the electronic medical waste today is recycled

Now here’s a myth that is partially correct. According to official statistics, more than 50% of this waste is recycled, but there are still tons of it that end up in landfills.

7. Recycling companies send materials that are worthless to landfills

A serious recycling company would never do that because they know that these materials can harm the environment. They are processing these materials in a special way and store them.

8. Every recycling company involved in electronic medical recycling works in the same way

Unfortunately, this is wrong because there are many companies in this industry that ship the waste abroad causing global pollution problems.

9. Electronic medical waste cannot be reused

Wrong. Thanks to these recycling companies, certain elements are processed and prepared for reuse in new products.

10. I have to pay for electronic medical waste pick up services

Most recycling companies will do this for free.

 SOURCE: https://www.igassetmanagement.com/blog/10-common-misconceptions-about-electronic-medical-waste/