The speed of device innovation is proportional to the speed at which these devices are discarded because they become "obsolete" resulting in a new problem: electronic waste.
Electronic waste or e-waste is the set of all waste from electronic or electrical devices such as computers, cell phones, TVs, among others. In most cases, this material reaches nature without any treatment and contaminates it.
Although this type of waste represents only 1% of the total volume of landfills, it is estimated that on average about 70% of the toxins released in garbage dumps in large cities come from electronic waste.
The contamination of soils, underground wells and the entire ecosystem in general is the result of a lack of knowledge on environmental preservation issues. The serious thing is that in Latin American countries less than 5% of all toxic waste is treated and reused and the rest goes directly to inappropriate garbage dumps and landfills, which results in an increase in pollutants generated into the environment.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
– When looking to buy an electronic device, choose the highest quality ones and those that ensure a longer lifespan in their materials.
– Do not change equipment/device unless necessary.
– If you have to replace it, find someone who can use the one you no longer use.
– Consider recycling your appliances. Recycling involves reusing parts to make new products.
– In the case of cell phones, the ideal situation would be that when a customer acquires a new device, he or she would return the used equipment to the telecommunications company. This form of recycling, called “take back”, allows the used equipment to be concentrated in specific points and, consequently, generates a volume that is economically profitable to recycle. It is estimated that in some countries that have this system, 80% of cell phone recycling is destined for the resale of the equipment.
– Evaluate the advantages/disadvantages of buying a recycled or refurbished cell phone, these are, on average, 50% cheaper than a new one.
– Think twice before throwing away an old PC/laptop. There are foundations that receive old computers. After reconditioning them, they donate them to low-income sectors.
– Another viable alternative is to participate in the Electronic collection campaigns for recycling from parties such as the one currently being organized by Ballenita Sí Online
Adapted from Blue Environmentalists
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