Answer:
1. It protects the environment
Recycling e-waste can keep a range of harmful materials out of the environment.
Lighting, including fluorescent tubes and lamps, contains toxic mercury that can leach into waterways when it is thrown into landfill.
However, when lighting is recycled, the mercury is recovered and safely used again in products like dental amalgam.
The same goes for batteries, which can feature lead, mercury and cadmium.
For example, when a lead-acid battery is recycled, the plastic parts and toxic lead are recycled, while the sulphuric acid is neutralised and then converted into sodium sulphate to make fertiliser and detergent.
2. It reduces business costs
E-waste recycling is not only good for mother nature, it can also be good for a business’ bottom line.
Most state and territory governments have now incentivised e-waste recycling by hiking the cost of dumping or outright banning it.
There are also some non-tangible dividends of recycling to consider, such as lowering the future costs of non-renewable materials and boosting staff morale and retention.
