Gadgets aren’t recycled enough. Here’s how you can help
Phone upgrades still offer less, and we keep our phones longer than we used to. But when we finally upgrade to the next big phone, we throw out a lot of our old phones, according to a UN Global E-waste Monitor Report released earlier this year.
And we’re doing this at a rate that’s almost five times faster than the rate at which comparable materials are recycled.
The volume of e-waste generated increased from 34 billion kilograms (about 75 billion pounds) to 62 billion kilograms (about 137 billion pounds) between 2010 and 2022, the UN report found. To drive the point home, the report estimates that these 62 billion kilograms of e-waste could fit onto 1.55 million trucks, creating a line that would wrap around the Earth’s equator.
Meanwhile, the amount of electronic waste recycled has increased from 8 billion kilograms to just 13.8 billion kilograms over the same period.
The UN’s International Telecommunication Union has set a goal of having 50% of the world’s countries (97 countries) adopt an e-waste policy, law or regulation by 2023. But the report shows that this effort is slowing, with only 81 countries, or 42%, having taken action to address e-waste. There are factors that can distort the accuracy of data. For example, systems for documenting and reporting electronics recycling vary widely from country to country.
Here’s what you can do to recycle your old electronics.
Check this out: How to Recycle Your Old Phone or Electronics
How to recycle electronics
You don’t have to throw away your old phones, batteries, computers, and other gadgets. There are many free and easy ways to recycle your electronics. You can mail them in, take them to a recycling center, take them to a big box store like Best Buy or Home Depot, or sometimes even take them to the manufacturer.
For example, if you live near an Apple Store, you can bring your old iPhone or other Apple products to be recycled. Some of those products may be eligible for a trade-in credit. According to the Apple Reuse and Recycling ProgramBy returning your devices, you can “bring us closer to producing every product using only recyclable and renewable materials.”
And here you can hand in your old computers and printers for free.
For larger IT recycling needs, Dell’s Asset Recovery Services will safely take and handle equipment even if it is not made by Dell. If your company or group of friends has at least 10 phones to recycle, Smartphone recycling accepts devices in bulk that are shipped using a free, print-at-home FedEx shipping label. In addition to phones, the company also accepts Apple products and other tablets.
You can also repair your old devices, with iFixit offering DIY guides and tech companies now making it easier to remove and replace damaged components. If you’re not comfortable going the DIY route, you can also take it back to the manufacturer or a third-party for repair.
Read more: Phone and laptop repair goes mainstream, with a big push from iFixit
