Improper E-waste Disposal: What Impact is Your Company Having on the Environment?

Many companies in the UK are unaware of the dangers of disposing of electrical waste incorrectly. In fact, around 200,000 tonnes of business e-waste are being thrown away with general waste every year in the UK, with nearly 5,000 tonnes being illegally fly-tipped, highlighting the lack of understanding amongst industries of the harm e-waste can cause to the environment.  

We sat down with Rachel Hall, S2S Group’s Chief Operating Officer, to discuss the topic and provide exclusive insight into the importance of correct e-waste disposal for maintaining the environment.   

Since records began in 2010, the amount of e-waste produced globally has increased by 82%, reaching 62 million tonnes in 2022. These rising levels of e-waste have a significant negative impact on the environment, as discarded electronics often contain hazardous materials like lead, mercury, and cadmium that can leach into soil and water, contaminating ecosystems and threatening wildlife and local communities. 

 Improper disposal methods, such as landfilling and burning, release an average of 1,000 different types of toxic chemicals into the air as well as greenhouse gases, contributing to air pollution and worsening climate change. 

Additionally, when e-waste isn’t properly recycled, valuable resources like gold, silver, and rare earth metals are lost, leading to increased resource depletion and environmental degradation from further mining. Without responsible e-waste management, the environment faces worsening pollution, biodiversity loss, and a growing carbon footprint – making sustainable e-waste recycling practices crucial for protecting our ecosystems. 

1. Increased carbon emissions

Letting business e-waste go to landfill leads to the rise of carbon emissions, as often these materials are burned, contaminating the air, water, and soil around the disposal site. Between 2014 and 2020, greenhouse gas emissions from electronics and their associated e-waste increased by 53%, which has led to drastic changes in weather climates across the globe, damaging ecosystems and their inhabitants. A business’s individual carbon footprint is far more influential than many think, as every contribution to a circular economy helps to promote a greener future.  

2. Poor CSR reporting

For companies of a certain size, it is now the law to report annually on an organisation’s Corporate Social Responsibility. Businesses that don’t currently work with ITAD suppliers such as S2S Group are losing out on opportunities to improve their CSR and be one step closer to achieving their sustainability goals. Over half of customers in the UK consciously buy from eco-friendly businesses, highlighting the shift in consumer behaviour which UK organisations cannot afford to ignore, by not fulfilling their environmental obligations through improper e-waste disposal.  

3. Neglecting sustainability responsibilities 

Organisations that consistently ignore their sustainability obligations by not recycling their e-waste may not realise that doing nothing has just as negative an impact as consciously harming the environment. It is a business’s responsibility to understand how it can have a positive impact on the environment, and starting with disposing of business e-waste correctly ensures all redundant IT assets are securely destroyed or reused, benefitting not only the environment but also the business itself.  

At S2S Group, we can help your business by securely managing your IT asset lifecycle, including data erasure, hardware refurbishment, and environmentally responsible recycling, ensuring full compliance with data protection and environmental regulations.   

We have an innovative, secure tracking portal, Trakk-IT, which we provide to lots of our customers for complete visibility throughout the IT asset management process. As well as often offering cash rebates for reusable assets which can be sold on, our team also follows a strict zero-waste direct to landfill policy to support not only our own sustainability but our customers’. 

Partnering with S2S Group not only reduces security risks and IT asset disposal costs but also enhances your corporate social responsibility and strengthens your brand’s reputation, a key competitive advantage which organisations ought to invest in regardless of the size of your business or industry.