I am Marc Marmolejo, the founder and owner of electronic waste recycler, XTreme Green Recycling. My team and I serve households, businesses and schools in Clovis and Fresco. Although we are not the only recycling company in these towns, there are a plenty of things that we do differently.
In this blog I am going to walk you through a big aspect of our business that makes us stand out and share with you why it matters to you as a homeowner or business person concerned about the environment and well-being of your family and community.
We Do not Export E-Waste to Asia
Many recyclers export your TVs, laptops, computers, air conditioners and other used electronic equipment to Nigeria, Ghana, China, India or Pakistan. We do not do it because it harmful for the people involved in those countries and it damages the environment.
How damaging it is was explained by Barbara Kyle of the Electronics Take Back in an interview with NPR.
She said, “[Well,] what happens with an awful lot of it [e-waste] is it gets very minimally processed here where the recycler might take out some of the most profitable parts to the computers, in particular. And then the rest of it gets shipped overseas, usually to developing countries, a lot of it going to Asia, China in particular. And there, it's really almost virtually dumped.”
Do you know what happens after the e-waste is “virtually dumped?”
Kyle explains, “It's getting into their water systems in an area of China call Guayu(ph). Contaminant levels are so high, they have to truck in all of their water.”
Before anyone brushes off e-waste exports to Asia and Africa as their problem, here is another revelation from the Kyle’s interview, “Very recently, there's been some work tracing some of these toxins back to us.”
She mentions a study done by an Oregon professor who traced toxins in “some of the children's jewelry that's purchased at, you know, discount stores to lead in solder, lead from electronic waste. So the circle of poison, really, is coming all the way back to us.”
So it is not just their problem. It is already our problem and it is going to get worse if we do not stop exporting e-waste, which is clearly harmful to humans, to Asia and Africa.
So What Is the Solution?
A way to solve the problem is to process electronic waste here in America. That’s what we do.
When we collect your TVs, radios, iPods, refrigerators, cell phones and other electronic stuff we make sure it is recycled in the most responsible manner.
We only work with downstream E - recyclers that are E-steward certified. It means, none of the electronic waste is sent over seas! All is processed here in the States, before being baled and sold for scrap metal. You can have peace of mind knowing all your e-waste is not going to end up in someone else's backyard. We do the right thing 100 percent of the time.
When we started we wanted to create a company that serves Valley residents and their e-waste needs. We stick to our values.
We are a responsible recycler committed to creating a positive difference in our community. Your can support us by letting us collect your e-waste.
It will not only be good for our company, but it will also keep your children, family and other loved ones out of the harm’s way.
You do not want toxins harming them 10, 20 or 30 years from now, do you? We can ensure your family’s well being by disposing of your electronic waste responsibly.
In this blog I am going to walk you through a big aspect of our business that makes us stand out and share with you why it matters to you as a homeowner or business person concerned about the environment and well-being of your family and community.
Many recyclers export your TVs, laptops, computers, air conditioners and other used electronic equipment to Nigeria, Ghana, China, India or Pakistan. We do not do it because it harmful for the people involved in those countries and it damages the environment.
How damaging it is was explained by Barbara Kyle of the Electronics Take Back in an interview with NPR.
She said, “[Well,] what happens with an awful lot of it [e-waste] is it gets very minimally processed here where the recycler might take out some of the most profitable parts to the computers, in particular. And then the rest of it gets shipped overseas, usually to developing countries, a lot of it going to Asia, China in particular. And there, it's really almost virtually dumped.”
Do you know what happens after the e-waste is “virtually dumped?”
Kyle explains, “It's getting into their water systems in an area of China call Guayu(ph). Contaminant levels are so high, they have to truck in all of their water.”
Before anyone brushes off e-waste exports to Asia and Africa as their problem, here is another revelation from the Kyle’s interview, “Very recently, there's been some work tracing some of these toxins back to us.”
She mentions a study done by an Oregon professor who traced toxins in “some of the children's jewelry that's purchased at, you know, discount stores to lead in solder, lead from electronic waste. So the circle of poison, really, is coming all the way back to us.”
So it is not just their problem. It is already our problem and it is going to get worse if we do not stop exporting e-waste, which is clearly harmful to humans, to Asia and Africa.
A way to solve the problem is to process electronic waste here in America. That’s what we do.
When we collect your TVs, radios, iPods, refrigerators, cell phones and other electronic stuff we make sure it is recycled in the most responsible manner.
We only work with downstream E - recyclers that are E-steward certified. It means, none of the electronic waste is sent over seas! All is processed here in the States, before being baled and sold for scrap metal. You can have peace of mind knowing all your e-waste is not going to end up in someone else's backyard. We do the right thing 100 percent of the time.
When we started we wanted to create a company that serves Valley residents and their e-waste needs. We stick to our values.
We are a responsible recycler committed to creating a positive difference in our community. Your can support us by letting us collect your e-waste.
It will not only be good for our company, but it will also keep your children, family and other loved ones out of the harm’s way.
You do not want toxins harming them 10, 20 or 30 years from now, do you? We can ensure your family’s well being by disposing of your electronic waste responsibly.
