This year, Apple’s environmental team brought national attention to a long-standing problem: electronic waste, commonly known as e-waste. The electronics giant announced Liam, a robot capable of deconstructing iPhones to harvest precious metals and remove reusable parts. This innovation signals a sea change in how large companies view end of life electronics and their ability to reduce the amount of e-waste that accumulates.
E-waste is the fastest growing waste stream in the country, with 3.2 million tonsproduced each year. Sadly, more than 80 percent of this e-waste is sent to landfills, where the toxic chemicals can leach into the nearby soil and water “impacting nearby communities and the environment.” Due to the use of toxic metals, even recycled e-waste poses risks to our world. Many U.S.-based recyclers ship electronics overseas to countries with looser environmental and human health regulations. So what can you do to address your company’s e-waste problem in an ethical way?
Ann Calamai is Director of Sustainability at Optoro, a technology company that helps retailers find the most eco-friendly and profitable path for returned and/or excess inventory. One of Calamai’s primary responsibilities at Optoro is driving the company’s environmental initiatives. Calamai shared the following tips for companies looking to address their e-waste problem. The good news: you don’t need a robot to have an impact.