Ever wonder what becomes of some of our personal items after they've outlived their usefulness and are ready to discard? Things like cellphones, laptops or that old CD you used to listen to on repeat back in high school? Though once out of sight, typically out of mind, these items (or at least the components of these items) do go on to do other things. That is if you put in the extra effort to recycle them.
Not everything that's recyclable can go into the single-stream bins. We cobbled together a handful of these special cases — from motor oil to digital pregnancy tests — to explore their afterlives.
Computers, Smartphones, Televisions
These are some of the classic items we often think of when we think of electronics waste. They are processed somewhat similarly though special precautions need to be made for hazardous materials. For example batteries need to be removed from cellphones and older, cathode-ray tube television sets require special handling due to their lead content.
After e-waste items are collected, they are typically sorted by type and checked for resale value, says Tim Dewey-Mattia, who serves as a board member for the Northern California Recycling Association. The device will be broken down to its core components before it is shredded. Plastic parts are flaked, cleaned and melted into pellets which can be used to make various plastic items from picnic tables to traffic cones — or other new electronic devices.
