FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who is Neuwaste Business Recycling?

A business focused on maximizing the life and use of waste produced from advancing technologies. We repair, refurbish, and recycle waste produced from advancing technologies.

What is e-waste?

E-waste is a common nickname for the fastest growing form of solid waste in the world today, electronic waste. Electronic waste can be simply defined as anything with a cord attached to it that is not an appliance. Computers, printers, wiring, scanners and cell phones are all examples of e-waste.

What is universal waste?

This type of waste contains more hazardous elements than e-waste and becomes dangerous once the item is exposed or uncontained. Common examples of universal waste are computer monitors, fluorescent lighting, batteries, and thermometers containing mercury.

What is Neuwaste?

"Neuwaste" is an industry term introduced by NBR that encompasses all solid waste forms created from advancing technologies. More specifically, electronic and universal waste usually co-exist in business settings and are handled and disposed through similar processes. ‘Neuwaste’ simply engulfs the two popular forms and terms into one for simplified communication and understanding.

What makes Neuwaste so hazardous and why should it be recycled?

While some materials may cause more harm on the environment than others, it is essential that all Neuwaste is handled and disposed of properly. Televisions and computer monitors contain 7-10 lbs. of lead that protect viewers from hazardous rays given off from the units. Also, Fluorescent lights contain mercury while most batteries contain acid. While similarly categorized materials such as computers, printers, and cell phones don’t

Where does the material go once it is collected?

Material is brought back to the NBR warehouse for testing and re-assignment to its proper destination. Because of the rate in which technology is advancing, the majority of material collected is broken or obsolete. These items will be put through state of the art machinery that will seperate the metals, plastics, glass and miscellaneous materials for the construction of brand new devices. Certain materials such as cell phones, computers, and laptops usually have an extra life before undergoing the recycling process. While some of these devices may not work as a whole, the respective components within the devices may be fully functional when placed in another machine.

What is the Electronic Waste Act of 2003?

In 2003 the State of California passed landmark legislation (SB 20 and SB 50) regulating the proper end of life handling and disposal of cathode ray tubes (CRT’s). There were two motivating factors to this legislation: First, CRT’s contain 7-10 lbs. When these materials are land filled rain and other forms of weather cause the lead to mix into our soil and water supply. Second, CRT’s are bulky and every Californian has one. Land fill reduction has been a concern of Californian’s since the early 70’s. The passing of this Bill will be essential to reducing the space that would otherwise be overwhelmed by CRT’s.
Prior to Senate Bill 20, anyone looking to dispose of a CRT properly would have to pay $20 - $40. And although most were/are not aware of the hazardous materials that make up a CRT, those that did would be hard pressed to spend $40 throwing something away. In turn, with the enacted legislation, there is a recycling fee put all newly purchased CRT’s. This tax goes into a fluctuating budget that pays approved collectors (such as NBR) to collect the material at no cost to Californian’s!