Environmental Impact

How U.S. Micro Makes a Difference

Improper procedures for recycling e-waste can cause the release of the following substances into the environment:

• Lead
• Cadmium
• Mercury
• Chromium
• Polyvinyl chlorides

These substances can lead to brain damage, kidney disease, cancers, and mutations. They are released when circuit boards are heated over an open fire, and toxic runoff is produced—this is a common process used in countries where proper recycling standards do not apply.

Companies turn to recyclers with the best of intentions to properly dispose of their assets. The problem is that with well over 100,000 computers recycled every day in the United States, e-waste is the fastest-growing segment of the municipal waste stream worldwide. Disreputable recycling organizations ship expensive-to-recycle items to buyers in developing countries, where the lack of worker safety and environmental regulations maximize profits for the firm.

The result is that toxic materials are released into the environment of these host countries.

That’s why U.S Micro will not resell to third-world countries whenever there is a risk of improper handling of e-waste—period.

But the best way to ensure environmental sustainability is to resell used assets. Remember, the pollution created by building one computer is more than the pollution that the same computer will create downstream during its disposal. By reselling once, you are environmentally net positive. But it’s not just an environmental concern, there are strong financial incentives that reselling can deliver to your business.

Contact a U.S. Micro representative to discover how we can help you develop a highly environmentally-sustainable profile.