For many years, old and broken electrical and electronic items were simply dumped in landfill. This has contributed to the climate emergency, as these products often contain hazardous materials. What’s more, they are also made of materials that we could reclaim, recycle and reuse, helping to reduce the need for new materials, and supporting a circular economy. Today, there are stringent rules for electronics recycling. Software that’s specially designed for the waste industry can help companies manage this area more effectively.
How can the right electronics recycling software help?
E-waste is known by a variety of names, depending on where you are in the world. In the UK, it is referred to as WEEE – Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment. We throw away this type of equipment in huge numbers – according to throundup.org, 57.4 million metric tonnes of e-waste was generated in 2021 alone. Less than 18% of this waste is known to be collected and recycled. And it’s estimated that the amount of e-waste will grow at around two million metric tonnes per year.
That’s a lot of useful material – and potentially hazardous substances – going to waste. So there are excellent opportunities for waste management organisations to collect, sort and recycle these products. They can also take advantage of the growing secondary markets for a wide range of metals and plastics that can go back into the economy.
To take advantage of these opportunities, and to help increase the amount of WEEE materials that are recycled, organisations need to run efficient, cost-effective operations. This includes investing in intelligent waste management software platforms that integrate all your business functions for streamlined operations and a better service offering to your clients. Functionality includes:
- Analytics and reporting
- Billing and financial management
- Pricing, bids and tenders
- Haulage, weighbridge and route management
- Service agreements and contracts
- Driver apps
Having visibility and control across all your business functions allows you to see exactly how valuable e-waste management is to your business and how you can make sure you are approaching it with an informed commercial mindset.
Boosting e-waste management with software
Statistics show that we still have a long way to go in this area. In the USA for example, the recycling rate in this area is only 15%, and yet the amount of electrical and electronic items thrown away each year is significant. Recycling rates are generally better in Europe, but there is still room for improvement, and that represents opportunity for waste management companies.
For more information, visit our detailed guide for everything you need to know about waste management software. To speak with the team about how e-waste management software can help your business, click below.
