Earth911 Podcast: 3R Technology's Charles Brennick on Recycling Computers and Smartphones

Earth911's Mitch Ratcliffe talks with Charles Brennick, director of Business Development and eCommerce at Seattle-based 3R Technology, an electronics recycling company that also refurbishes and resells PCs, laptops, phones and monitors. He explains the two major recycling standards, eStewards and R2, and how devices are handled after people send them. Brennick also outlines the valuable materials in old electronics and how R3 refurbishes and sells PCs, phones, monitors and mother boards, extending their useful life and reduce the need for raw materials. eWaste accounts for 53.6 million tons of waste annually as of 2019 and is expected to rise to 74 million tons by 2030 -- twice the amount discarded just seven years ago. Only 17.4 percent of the ewaste was recycled, so your decision to recycle old tech can contribute to changing the electronics industry for the better.

R3 Technology's SimplEcycle program provides a free mailing label and, if needed, a box to send multiple PCs or phones. The company has developed a discount program to help get PCs and phones to low-income kids and non-profit organizations. Take a few minutes to learn how to give your old computer or phone a second life -- if you have devices you'd like to recycle, request a free shipping label from 3R Technology and get started at https://store.3rtechnology.com/pages/simplecycle.