Technology has appeared in homes around the world and has become so much more common than it used to be. This boost in technology used by everyone everywhere leads to so much more E waste than there used to be. Getting rid of old technology you can no longer use is harder than you might think it is, because it isn’t so easy to just throw away or recycle.
Your devices, if you simply throw them in the trash, will find their way to landfills or will be shipped somewhere where it will stay forever. Let’s look at statistics about E waste to get you thinking about your impact.
- In 2016, 45 million tons of electronics were thrown away.
- Out of that, only 20% of E waste is documented and recycled the way it is supposed to be.
- Smartphones that are thrown away waste about $9 billion of materials, and the rest of the technology thrown away wastes about $55 billion.
While not only is E Waste terrible for the environment and wasteful, it can also lead to other issues like data security.
Data Security
If any data is found on your technology that was tossed, it can put your business or your personal information in jeopardy. If you throw away a phone without wiping it, a hacker can use it to get into your new devices as well as all of your accounts. This doesn’t have to be a cellphone or computer, hackers can do this through hard drives alone.Â
Before throwing technology out, make sure it is wiped so this doesn’t happen. MyTek can help you wipe your devices easily. Plus, we also know how to properly recycle your device so you are doing your part in limiting E waste. Give us a call at 623-312-2440 to learn more.