Americans rely on their gadgets now more than ever. A new iPhone comes out every year and those who want to be the owner of the latest, greatest smartphone are going to upgrade every year. New iPads and Apple TVs are also frequently updated, phasing out the old. Apple products are only a fraction of the electronics that are phased out every day. So, what happens to all the old electronics?
According to estimates from the EPA, in 2013 electronics in landfills, referred to E-waste, accounted for more than 3 million tons of materials. California was the first state, in 2003, to pass an E-waste law that pushed recycling of used electronics. Maine followed suite in 2004, requiring television and computer monitor manufacturers to divert their product from landfills while also picking up the tab for their disposal. Many other states have followed examples set by California and Maine, but there is still a need for more focus on recycling e-waste.