It's possible for a business to generate a tremendous amount of electronic waste. Dumping that waste isn't good for the environment, nor is it a responsible business tactic. Here's a little more about business e-waste, and what you can do about it.

Why You Just Can't Dump Your Electronic Waste

Electronics, like most garbage, can sit in an already overburdened landfill. Unlike many other types of garbage, electronics typically have some very toxic materials in them. They can include lead, mercury, beryllium, cadmium, and various other toxic materials.

Those toxins can get into the air, the soil, and the water. While a little here and there doesn't account for much, consider that many businesses toss out an entire office building worth of electronics regularly.

 What Constitutes E-Waste

"Electronic waste" includes virtually any electronic product that is no longer seeing use. For a business, that can include any or all of the following:

• Televisions
• Computer monitors
• Workstations and all their components
• Data networking equipment
• Any type of mobile phone
• Any type of media player
• Lights and batteries
• Alarms and sensors

Even tiny businesses can accumulate a tremendous amount of e-waste. You may notice that you throw out a tremendous amount of it at your own business. Businesses that are planning to move offices will often shed a lot of electronic waste as well.

How to Deal With E-Waste Responsibly

The good news is, you actually have many options available to you when it comes to dealing with e-waste responsibly.

Donate it – Electronics can often have life beyond their initial use. In many instances, businesses throw out equipment that's still very much operational. Instead of throwing it away, donate it to a group that can use it.

Sell it – Similarly to donating it, it's possible to sell used electronics. Many people can repurpose them, or use them in some way or another. Some manufacturers even have buyback programs, so you can send the product back and earn some extra money as well.

Recycle it – There's many recycling centers that specialize in the responsible destruction of e-waste. Many electronics retailers also offer recycling programs. It may take some legwork, but you may also find some recyclers that specialize in taking care of specific types of electronics, such as cell phones or batteries.

Really, you can find a lot of different solutions out there for your e-waste. The most important thing is that you don't simply toss it into the trash. When you recycle electronic waste, such as with iGlobal Serivces Inc., you're doing the world a favor.