Last updated 5 days ago
More E-waste is created all the time, and too much of it is disposed of improperly. Fortunately, there are some facilities that focus on responsibly recycling as much of the material as possible from old electronics.
You can drop off most electronics at Western, from cell phones and digital cameras to TVs and computers. Check details for any disposal fees at WesternDisposal.com. We make sure that all of the waste in our community is disposed of as responsibly as possible.
This video offers a look at the recycling process for E-waste. In the facility being profiled, plastic cases and bodies are removed and packaged for recycling first. Then, components like circuit boards and the lead funnels from CRT screens and monitors are separated for processing. To find out what else is involved, watch this video.
For more information on the recycling of E-waste and other materials, contact Western Disposal of Boulder, CO. We make sure that all of the waste in our community is disposed of as responsibly as possible. Call us at (303) 586-1100 to ask about our commercial, residential, and special event waste management services.
Last updated 12 days ago
Colorado E-Waste Ban Begins July 1, 2013!
The Dangers of Improper E-Waste Disposal
Beginning July 1, 2013 it will be a violation of the solid waste regulations for residents of Colorado to dispose of electronic waste in their trash. Read more at the Colorado Dept. of Public Health and Environment.
Every year, Americans and people all over the world buy more and more new electronics. Unfortunately, this means that people are constantly disposing of old electronics. Products like smartphones, TVs, and computers are comprised of many recyclable materials that too rarely get recycled. The plastics that make up the cases and bodies of electronics take up a lot of space in landfills, but the metals and chemicals in the electrical components do the real damage. Read on to learn more about the dangers of improperly discarded E-waste.
Every year, Americans and people all over the world buy more and more new electronics. Unfortunately, this means that people are constantly disposing of old electronics. Products like smartphones, TVs, and computers are comprised of many recyclable materials that too rarely get recycled. The plastics that make up the cases and bodies of electronics take up a lot of space in landfills, but the metals and chemicals in the electrical components do the real damage. Read on to learn more about the dangers of improperly discarded E-waste.
Local Ground Pollution
The materials in modern electronics include a variety of chemicals and elements that are hazardous to humans and wildlife alike. Circuit boards and displays often contain such elements as lead, arsenic, mercury, and chromium. These can leach into the soil and pollute plant and animal life, which can then spread through the food chain to humans.
Far-Reaching Water Pollution
When electronics are disposed of in or near rivers or streams, whether intentionally or by accident, the chemicals and heavy metals within them can be washed away and dispersed over large areas. These chemicals can contaminate water supplies and poison fish, having dire consequences on populations nearby and downstream.
Dangerous Living Conditions Abroad
Many waste management and less-than-responsible recycling companies send E-waste overseas to be processed or disposed of in landfills. The E-waste sent abroad often goes to impoverished and marginalized parts of the world. In India, children and adults work in the E-waste trade and risk slow deaths from heavy metal poisoning and other health concerns. It’s estimated that if current practices continue, people in India will be handling five times the hazardous E-waste in 2020 that they were in 2007.
If you want to have your E-waste and other refuse and recyclables disposed of properly and responsibly, contact Western Disposal. We serve the Boulder community with top-notch recycling and waste management services at all levels. Call (303) 586-1100 for more information.
Last updated 27 days ago
Every year homes and businesses across the country produce pounds upon pounds of waste. Much of this waste goes into landfills. In some cases, toxic waste that is not disposed of properly can end up contaminating the local water supply, potentially placing the community’s health at risk. Fortunately, by reducing waste we can help reduce our impact on the environment and keep our communities healthy. Here is a guide to reducing your waste output.
Determine What Waste You Create
The first step to solving any problem is determining the exact nature of the problem itself. When it comes to waste management, this means identifying the types of waste you produce and determining where exactly this waste is coming from. In regards to the types of waste you create, pay attention to whether the waste is hazardous or not, or whether they can be disposed of in other ways. You should also pay attention to the sources of waste as this can help you focus on the most troublesome sources of waste production.
Identify Ways To Prevent Waste Production
After you have a good idea of your home or businesses’ waste production, you can begin to take steps to reduce it. This means identifying materials that you can reuse, finding ways to reduce waste, and attempting to make your purchase policies more efficient.
Set Goals
Whether you are trying to save money or simply do your part for the environment, setting goals is important. If you are trying to save money, for example, recycling can help promote a culture of efficiency and reuse. This means that you end up paying less for materials.
Reducing your waste output is a great way to help the community and the environment. While it may be immediately apparent that you are producing excess waste, once you start investigating your waste output, you will begin to realize just how much you can cut back and save. If you want to learn more about how to reduce waste output, call Western Disposal at (303) 586-1100. Or visit our Reduce Your Impact page for more ideas.
Last updated 1 month ago
The benefits of recycling are almost too numerous to count. First and foremost, recycling is a great way to help the environment. Communicating the benefits of recycling to children, however, can often be difficult. Here are some tips that could help you teach your kids about the importance of recycling.
Explain Energy Savings in an Accessible Manner
When it comes to teaching children, it is all about delivery. For example, although explaining to a child that recycling helps save energy might not make sense, the concept could be conveyed more effectively through a visual aid. It also helps to use examples that children can relate to. Telling a child that recycling one soda can saves enough energy to light a 100-watt bulb for 20 hours will help communicate the importance of recycling.
Make Recycling Fun
Turning the recycling process into a game is a great way to give your kids a fun way to learn about recycling. There are a number of ways to turn recycling into a game. For example, place recycling boxes of different colors in your home. Have each color represent a certain type of recyclable product and have your kids place the items in the correct boxes. This will teach them about the importance of sorting while also helping to develop the habit of recycling. You can also give your children stars for placing recyclables in the correct box.
The tips listed above are just a couple of the many ways to teach recycling to your kids in a fun, informative way. Teaching your children the value of recycling early on can help develop this important habit and also enhance their understanding of the environment. If you would like your kids to learn more about recycling and take a tour of Western’s operatios to see up close what happens to the materials we collect call Western Disposal at (303) 586-1100 or find out more about what is recyclable and watch a video about the Boulder County Recycling Center on our Recycling page.
Last updated 1 month ago
Teaching your kids how to recycle is a great way to pass on important skills like responsibility, community-awareness, and environmental stewardship. Without the right methods, however, communicating the ideas behind recycling can sometimes be difficult.
In this video you will learn about encouraging your children to recycle. While there are certainly a lot of different ways to teach kids about recycling, it is important to communicate ideas clearly. For example, it is important to teach kids that protecting the earth is important. Furthermore, communicating ideas of environmental responsibility can translate into other areas as it helps develop an awareness of the importance of consequences.
To learn more about how to encourage your children to recycle, watch the video provided above. To learn more about the importance of recycling, call Western Disposal at (303) 586-1100 or visit us at www.westerndisposal.com.
