In 2003, the European Union unveiled the “Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive” (or “WEEE” for short.) The program’s goal: to collect 10 million tons of obsolete, discarded electronic equipment and computers within the EU by 2020.  As the tenth anniversary of the Directive approaches, many experts are taking the opportunity to evaluate this ambitious program. Others are wondering how the U.S. compares to Europe when it comes to recycling e-waste.

For example, the “WEEE” directive bans the export of hazardous “First World” e-waste to “Third World” countries. However, many American companies continue to ship potentially toxic and dangerous computer equipment and other “gadgets” for processing in China, India and developing nations.

At Recycling New York, Inc., on the other hand, we never export used and unwanted equipment. When your New Jersey or New York company works with us to dispose of its e-waste, every piece of it is processed here in America.  The “WEEE” directive also orders equipment manufacturers to “initiate some kind of recycling program” for any products it made after 2005. According to a report by Waste & Recycling News:  “The U.S. has not only met this challenge, but exceeded it. Green groups around the country have pushed electronic manufacturers to approach the design of their products with their afterlives in mind. Large electronic manufacturing companies, like Apple, now construct their products using reduced quantities of hazardous-to-destruct materials, like mercury, aluminum, and glass for safer future recycling.”

Recycling New York, Inc. is one of the few private companies leading the way in the safe, responsible recycling of computers, office equipment and other electronic goods.   Contact Recycling New York, Inc. to learn how your New York or New Jersey company can quickly and easily dispose of obsolete equipment, surplus inventory and other items you might not have considered “recyclable.”