How Long Does it Take Electronic Waste to Decompose?
E-waste is on the landfill blacklist for a good reason. Electronic devices seem like they were made to resist decomposition … forever. The glass they might contain takes 1-2 million years to decompose. Plastics last forever: a plastic jug lasts 1 million years, and plastic bags stick around 20 to 1,000 years. And that’s for […]
Step-by-Step: How a Device is Recycled with ERI
ERI is one of the largest e-waste recyclers in the world and is deeply invested in making that world a greener place. But do you ever wonder what a device goes through when it’s recycled by ERI, and what makes the process so comprehensive and secure in the first place? Below are the ins and […]
Four Data Destruction Methods That Could Put Your Data At Risk
Data security is one of the most important issues of our day. Sadly, data breaches happen often, with many large companies like Sony, Anthem and eBay making headlines. NPR also reported on the emerging black market for stolen health care data. The Target security breach on the tail end of 2013 is probably the most high-profile case in the […]
How Fixing Devices or Buying Refurbished Reduces E-Waste
Sometimes buying a new product is more convenient than taking the time to fix or have your old product refurbished. But there are many reasons why it’s worth the effort to buy refurbished or check to see if your device can be repaired. Think before buying new New stuff means new materials are being used […]
Tech Graveyards: Five Reasons Why You Should Clean Them Up!
Maybe you have a drawer of old cell phones. Or a corner of your basement is a heap of discarded computers dating back to the Commodore 64. Perhaps there’s a closet where you still have an unused VCR, or your workplace has a dusty room in the basement that houses the ghosts of computers past. […]
How Industry Leaders Are Furthering E-Waste Recycling
Just as the quantity of consumer electronics produced is on the rise, so too is the rate at which it is discarded. Fortunately, the quantity of e-waste that is recycled is also increasing, albeit not as quickly as needed. However, in 2013, the amount of e-waste that was recycled more than doubled, as businesses and […]
Why E-Waste Recycling Isn’t ‘Dirty’
Sometimes e-waste recycling gets a bad rap. Many of us seem to want the newest, latest item, many times so we can hold it up as a symbol of affluence. Other news stories tell of the e-waste that isn’t properly handled in the recycling process, which contaminates the environment. Or e-waste that contaminates people abroad […]
How is Data Stolen Off Old, Discarded Devices?
All the stories out there about data mined off of old devices raise an interesting question: Just how do people get data off of an old device? The answer: very easily. If you can recover old data through data recovery software, so can anyone else. If the police can get into devices, so can identity […]
How Often Do We Upgrade Our E-Devices?
How often do you get the itch to acquire a new e-device? Is it when the new iPhone comes out? When you’ve had your device for two years and you no longer feel hip? Is it when your device just starts lagging, or are you the type of person who needs to completely break a […]
The Data Storage Crunch and What It Means for Data Destruction
There’s a rumor flying around that the world’s C: drive is almost full, meaning there’d be no more data storage space, possibly soon. The problem in itself is simple: The more we do on computers, the more data we need to store. In the personal realm that covers all the world’s cat videos, baby footage […]