The ongoing evolution of personal electronic devices guarantees obsolescence. Even the most hyped new products routinely up in the attic with the old flip phones, portable CD players and boxy personal computers from the past, creating a significant disposal problem. Dallas e-waste processing helps consumers responsibly recycle the average twenty pounds of electronic garbage that each person generates yearly.

Toxic materials are an important part of computer-based technologies. Prior to the introduction of flat-screen displays, massively heavy cathode-ray tubes included barium, a poisonous metal also used in automobile and lighting manufacturing. Circuit boards commonly contain cadmium, potentially harmful to kidneys and bones. Mercury, chromium, and even lead are other lethal metal components, often framed in plastics resistant to decay or flame.

The public is well-informed about the need for recycling, but that awareness has had little impact on the growing presence of e-waste. It is common for manufacturing companies to have no officially expressed policy regarding ultimate disposal, and even environmentally progressive bodies such as the European Union can account for less than one quarter of the electronic garbage generated. United States figures go even lower, and much of that is exported for metal extraction.

In an idealized economic world, electronics manufacturers would take responsibility for recycling what they produce, and in some cases that is actually occurring. In Texas and some other states, television and computer makers are required to offer free-of-charge services for their customers, and to publicize those efforts. Although many companies are eager to participate, others insist that the problem is demand, not supply.

Even the most environmentally concerned consumers rarely know the exact destination of their discarded units. Collection events are popular, an increasing number of services offer free pickup, and charitable programs designed to re-purpose old devices are common. Countries that are known destinations for reprocessing often battle a growing domestic e-waste problem of their own, and typically exercise few controls worker exposure to toxins.

After the old electronics are gone, there is little real assurance that they will not become a part of a foreign landfill. Some of the destination countries willingly trade environmental issues for hard currency and the chance to escape poverty. Those generating the most electronic detritus often choose solutions that are profitable in the short term, but may cause more serious issues for future generations.

Some companies have become certified by independent agencies in an effort to reflect the seriousness of their intentions. Many states administer fines for ignoring current regulations, but there are no uniform national rules governing electronic waste processing. The growth of programs that collect raw electronic materials makes it very simple for people to get rid of old equipment, but employs few controls over the final destination.

People living in Austin and other Texas municipalities increasingly turn to recycling companies who are willingly transparent regarding their own processes. Some companies have begun maintaining detailed tracking systems that follow materials from beginning to end, including the destination country. This not only helps control pollution, but also reduces health hazards for the people dependent on that work for survival.