How To Recycle Scanners?
Home and office scanners are the types of electronics that, once they break down, are simply not economically worth fixing. And while they do tend to last a very long time, it’s important to understand how to properly recycle these devices.
Because these devices contain a lot of materials that can be used again in new electronics, it’s important to find the right way to deal with them.
Why Should You Recycle Scanners?
The main reasons in favor of scanner recycling all come down to avoiding valuable resources that simply end up in a landfill. But there are also many metals and other materials in the electronic components that can do environmental damage.
These materials are not toxic to the environment as long as the device stays undamaged. But once water and heat get at them, it can quickly happen that toxins leak into the ground or air, where they can do a lot of damage.
These are the most important reasons in favor of photo and barcode scanner recycling.
Reuse valuable resources - There are plenty of metals and plastic components in scanners that can be extracted, separated, and then reused for new electronics.
Decrease demand for raw materials - By extracting reusable metals and plastic parts, there is a lot less demand for destructive mining.
Reduced energy use - Extracting metals and plastic from scanners is a lot less energy intensive than mining them with heavy machinery.
Reduced landfill demand - While these might seem like small devices when you add up the millions of pounds of e-waste that Americans generate each year, it amounts to a lot of unnecessary landfill use.
What Materials Can You Retrieve From Scanners?
There are several materials that you can retrieve when you recycle old scanner devices. First of all, just looking at a scanner, you’ll notice that there is a lot of plastic making up the housing. The majority of this plastic can be easily separated and then recycled into a whole load of different new components. Then there’s the glass plate at the top of the scanner, and this is no longer some form of led glass. Just like glass bottles, it’s easy to recycle this.
You then have a lot of copper wiring and other metals on the inside of the scanner. This is more difficult to extract properly and requires special equipment and expertise.
And then, there are printed circuit boards that contain a mix of plastic, silicon, and different metals. These also take specialty equipment to break down and separate into different materials and reuse for new electronics.
How to Recycle Scanners?
There are four main options that you have when recycling scanners.
E-Waste Recyclers
From an environmental perspective, this is really the main option you should consider for dealing with old broken scanners. A registered and certified e-waste recycling company will use proven and safe techniques and technology to separate all the materials. And if there are any toxic materials that require special processing, these companies use the right service providers to safely dispose of them.
Municipal Waste Management
If you search for “scanner recycling near me," you'll probably find a few municipal waste management centers that also accept electronics. But before you drive to your nearest option, call first to find out if they offer a drop-off service for the public. Some waste management companies might only accept electronics from electronics stores.
Manufacturer Take-Back Programs
Another good option is to check if the manufacturer has a take-back program. This allows you to drop off or send in any faulty devices for recycling. In some cases, these companies might also offer a discount on a scanner if you buy a new one.
Donation
And if your scanner is still in working order, then it can be worth checking in some local charity stores if they accept a scanner. Many of these charities rely on such donations, and there are plenty of people who can’t afford the newest and latest scanners, and they can make a cheap purchase in a charity store.
Where to Recycle Scanners?
Now let me show you how our team at Green Citizen can help you with your old scanner.
Drop-off Recycling (for residents in the San Francisco Bay Area)
If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, then you can use the drop-off service at the Green Citizen recycling center in Burlingame. You simply fill out a form and weigh the old scanner. Then drop it off during our office hours and pay the small fee through contactless payment options.
Business Recycling Pickups (for businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area)
For businesses that have an old scanner and other electronic devices that are no longer in use or have reached their end of useful life, we also offer a collection service. All you need to do is gather up your old devices, list them on the collection form, and send us some photos.
We will then provide you with an estimate for collection and recycling and arrange a time that suits you best.
Mail-in Recycling (US-wide Service)
Here at Green Citizen, we also offer a very convenient mail-in recycling service for people who don’t live close to any certified recycling centers. What you do is fill out the online form with details of your old scanner and then pay the small fee online.
You then use your favorite delivery service, and we will notify you once we have received it.
Green Directory (US-wide Service)
And finally, if you want to find a recycling service provider near you, then simply use the Green Directory and enter your zip code and the kind of recycling service you need. We’ll then provide you with a list of companies that you can contact.
DISCLOSURE *: GreenCitizen is passionate about making every day Earth Day for the people and businesses we serve. We introduce only those green products and services that we believe can help our customers reduce waste and environmental damage. We participate in Amazon Associates and other affiliate programs that earn us fees when site visitors follow certain links. We’re committed to using all such revenues to increase our efforts toward making every day Earth Day.
