E-waste, which includes cell phones and IT equipment, is growing rapidly worldwide with only 12.5% currently being recycled. It contains harmful substances like lead that can damage human health as well as precious metals. Recycling 1 million cell phones can recover over 35,000 lbs of copper, 770 lbs of silver, and 57 lbs of gold, but most e-waste ends up in landfills and incinerators where toxins are released.

1. Facts About IT Recycling

2. 20-50 million tons of e-waste are disposed worldwide every year.
Cell phones and IT equipment constitute high amount of precious
metals like gold or silver.
The High amount of lead in electronic equipment is know to cause
damage to the central and peripheral nervous systems, blood system
and kidneys in humans
80% of electronic products are still going in to landfills and
incinerators which release certain toxic into the air .

3. Top 5 Recycling
Countries

4. Only 12.5 of e-waste is currently recycled, the rest of e waste go
directly into landfills and incinerators.
35,274 lbs of copper, 772 lbs of silver, 57lbs of gold, 33lbs of
palladium can be recovered from every 1 million cell phones that
are recycled.
E-waste is the fastest growing source of waste in north America,
According to Environmental protection Agency.

5. How is e-waste Recycled?

6. It takes 539 lbs of fossil fuel, 48lbs of chemicals, and 1.5 tones of
water to manufacture one computer and monitor
Large amounts of e-waste are sent to China, India and Kenya
to make it more profitable in lower environmental standards
and working conditions.