Recharge E-waste: Ideas for Reducing Electronic Waste and Greening the Tech World

As recovery of metals and even non-metals becomes easier, expect to see more manufacturers embracing closed-loop processes. One metric ton of circuit boards contains up to times the amount of gold mined from one metric ton of ore!

Just as importantly, reusing minerals means companies can avoid the humanitarian and environmental costs of conflict mining. Apple is the admirable pioneer in this category. In April, the tech giant pledged to make all of its products from renewable resources or recycled materials in the future. In pursuit of this goal, the company is investing in more recycling technologies like Liam, its armed robot that can disassemble an iPhone in 11 seconds. In response to mounting consumer pressure, Intel , Samsung and Google have also taken steps to clean up their own operations. For its part, Apple admitted that its decision to go green was motivated, in part, by the promise of better publicity.

Never underestimate the power of profit and public opinion working in tandem. Consumers are putting pressure on manufacturers, and entrepreneurs are finding newfound value in our junked gadgets. The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum. Global Agenda Circular Economy How do we tackle the fastest growing waste stream on the planet? More on the agenda. Explore the latest strategic trends, research and analysis. A man passes the wall of an electronic shop made from old phones. New solutions to e-waste problems in India Could wood-based computer chips solve the e-waste crisis?

Which countries produce the most waste?

Spinning e-waste into gold

A look at a few trends already unfolding points the way forward: Moving towards a world without waste France's war on waste makes it the world's most sustainable country Scientists want to blast space waste out of the sky with lasers. Circular Economy View all. China generates more waste than any other country. In addition, because less energy is required, it keeps a check on resource energy depletion by avoiding over- utilization. Some brands of modern electronic devices are only meant to last for a few years under regular use before failing.

However, along with maintaining your electronic devices by cleaning them regularly to help them last for longer, you could also learn how to fix hardware problems on your device. Online sites such as iFixit provide free, step-by-step guides for fixing common issues across hundreds of different device models, along with pictures of the device and of the required tools for each repair job.

Nowadays, there are also many Youtube videos teaching you how to fix a broken laptop or do a phone screen replacement yourself. Many times, all it takes is a bit of time and patience before your gadget is good as new! By learning to repair your electronics at home, you will gain more detailed knowledge and understanding of the hardware of your device. This tip 8 was contributed by Cloe from CloeWrites. We all need to take a stand to prevent the destruction of the environment we live in.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. E-Waste's Impact on the Environment. Burning of wires release hydrocarbons in the atmosphere. Electronic devices contain toxic metals like mercury, lead and lithium, which when disposed of improperly, mixes with ponds, lakes and groundwater. Communities that directly depend on these sources of water then consume it unknowingly.

These heavy metals are hazardous for all forms of living beings. These heavy metals enter the food chain as they are absorbed by plants from the soil. These metals not only destroy the plants, but also are then consumed by other living beings, leading to a poisonous food chain. Ways to Reduce E-Waste and its Hazards. Recycle and Dispose of E-Waste Properly.

Dell admits that it cannot wave a magic wand and ban its used products from export. But it has a worldwide policy of accepting back without charge all used Dell equipment.

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It requires all its contractors to accept the used equipment, to follow the new rules — and to act as whistleblowers on rivals who do not. The e-waste trade is the unacceptable face of recycling. And, despite Europe's tougher laws, a lot gets through the net there, too.

Just a few months ago, Computer Aid International, a charity that gives old computers a new life in schools and other places in developing countries, criticised Britain's Environment Agency for failing to conduct an investigation after British e-waste turned up in the hands of child dismantlers in west Africa. Many other companies offer take-back services. But that is very different from imposing rules on their supply chains. And on closer examination, the take-back services often seem half-hearted at best. The printer maker Lexmark is currently covering Britain with posters advertising its environmental credentials and encouraging users of its printers to print less.

But what about the e-waste? In the US, if you want to safely recycle an old Lexmark printer, you have to pay the bill for shipping your printer back to its offices in Tennessee.