Electronic devices such as servers, routers, computers, and other hardware have revolutionized our lives and the way we do business. However, they are also causing a major environmental problem that gets worse every single year. The issue is waste management. New, fancy, exciting products are constantly being designed to innovate the way we interact with the world. That means that outdated items have to be disposed of, causing a massive amount of waste to build up.The sheer mass of decommissioned hardware devices that are piling into our landfills is a problem that continues to grow with each new innovation that is released. Many of the components in these items are made from plastics, and other alloys that are not biodegradable. Which means they can remain in the environment for an eternity, taking up land that could be used for housing, production, or agriculture.Another issue with all of this waste is that the new products that are manufactured require resources to be used in their production. Energy has to be expended to mine or create them, which can lead to the emission of CO2 and the depletion of irreplaceable minerals. In some cases the process used to mine these ingredients can also cause harm to the environment they are being extracted from.The worst problem is that many old computers, servers, cell phones, and other electronic devices can contain toxic substances that are required to make them function properly. As the device shifts and cracks over time, these chemicals can leak out, seeping into the ground and poisoning the earth, and then the water supply of the area. Animals and vegetation can also be affected by the presence of these elements.However there is a way to combat the environmental issues associated with waste electronics. There are recycling companies out there that specialize in the safe, efficient, and earth friendly deconstruction and repurposing of these items into new products. They do that by breaking the devices down into their components, separating various substances out, and then reusing them in the creation of brand new machines for private and corporate use.This helps to eliminate the waste build up that a disposal can cause, while also preventing harmful chemicals from getting back into the environmental cycle. At the same time it reduces the amount of new resources that have to be expended to produce updated products and innovations. They are also able to turn a profit doing it, allowing them to pass those savings on to the end consumer.We are particularly proud of our Eden Prairie (MN) branch, which has just gone to the expense of installing a series of solar panels on their property. These are being used to fuel all of the plant’s production needs via solar power, making their process even more environmentally friendly and efficient. In effect they are reusing the suns rays to help reuse old electronic devices, giving them new life. Now that is what a company does if they are serious about their impact on the environment.