AIM Ecycling, LLC is a full-service electronics recycler. we are R2 compliant, which means we are very stringent on all data containing materials and only use certified R2 vendors.
Electronics recycling is our only business. We are not distracted by collecting paper, plastic bottles or anything else. We collect and process computers, printers, servers, network equipment and personal electronics. Our processing streams include circuit boards, batteries, flat-screen displays, toner cartridges, lead-acid batteries from UPS devices and mercury in CCFL lamps. We are also able to process miscellaneous electronics, such as computer keyboards, power supplies, copiers, telephone systems, laboratory/test equipment, manufacturing e-scrap and audiovisual/video production equipment.
By offering low-cost electronics recycling, we believe we can make a difference in the nature and cost of asset management and e-waste solutions, and in the environmental impact of businesses and individuals. We are also committed to hosting free community electronics collection/shredding events.
In the past year, we collected and processed more than two million pounds of electronic waste, all in compliance with AIM’s strict no-landfill policy.
How much e-waste is in the waste stream?
In 2009, discarded TVs, computers, peripherals (including printers, scanners, fax machines) mice, keyboards, and cell phones totaled about 2.37 million short tons.
How much e-waste is recycled?
A great deal of what is labeled as “e-waste” is actually not waste at all; rather, it is whole electronic equipment or parts that are readily marketable for reuse or can be recycled for materials recovery. In 2009, approximately 25 percent of TVs, computer products, and cell phones that were ready for end-of-life management were collected for recycling. Cell phones were recycled at a rate of approximately 8 percent. For more information see Electronics Waste Management in the United States.
What is the environmental impact of disposing electronics into the environment without any precaution?
Electronics are complex devices which are made of a wide variety of material constituents. Some of the constituents, such as lead, nickel, cadmium, and mercury, could pose risks to human health or the environment if mismanaged at their end-of-life. EPA is very concerned about ensuring the proper management of used electronics and has undertaken important work to increase the collection and responsible recycling of used electronics.
As for managing electronics disposed in the US in landfills, we believe that disposal of electronics in properly managed municipal solid waste landfills does not threaten human health and the environment. The results of landfill leachate studies, suggest that currently allowed disposal of electronics — including those containing heavy metals — in modern municipal solid waste landfills are protective of human health and the environment. However, we strongly support keeping used electronics out of landfills, to recover materials and reduce the environmental impacts and energy demands from mining and manufacturing. Electronics are made from valuable resources, such as precious metals, copper, and engineered plastics, all of which require considerable energy to process and manufacture. Recycling electronics recovers valuable materials and as a result, we reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce pollution, save energy, and save resources by extracting fewer raw materials from the earth.
For example:
Recycling one million laptops saves the energy equivalent to the electricity used by 3,657 US homes in a year.
One metric ton of circuit boards can contain 40 to 800 times the amount of gold and 30 to 40 times the amount of copper mined from one metric ton of ore in the US.