Keeping up with technological developments by buying the latest trending products is fun. However, it should also be followed by good management of electronic goods that are no longer used.
Do not let these items accumulate and become electronic waste that can have a negative impact on the environment. Therefore, find out environmentally friendly solutions for managing electronic waste in your home. Here’s the description.
Reasons for Mandatory Electronic Waste Management
Wherever waste comes from, as humans we are of course responsible for managing it properly and correctly. Likewise with electronic waste, considering that this type of waste has been piling up and threatening the environment.
Smartphone Plus says that e-waste contributes 50 million metric tons annually. This is equivalent to 12,500 adult elephants. Unfortunately, only one-eighth or 12.5 percent of that amount is actually recycled. The rest will end up in landfills, burned, and even worse, thrown into the sea.
What is also very unfortunate is that some of the electronic waste is not even worth throwing away. In a sense, the device can still be used or the components in it can still be repaired or reused.
This condition is also related to the low public awareness of electronic waste management. Many still don’t know, don’t even care, that any element present in electronic devices is a threat to the environment. Therefore, it is very important to know how to manage e-waste properly and correctly.
Managing E-Waste in an Eco-Friendly Way
There are several ways that you can follow when managing your electronic waste. Among them:
- Taking to the Electronic Waste Recycling
Electronic waste should not be thrown away immediately when it is not used. Take it to the electronic waste recycling company that is around you. Make sure the place is also certified and proven to undergo recycling properly.
Bringing it there will reduce unnecessary piles of waste in landfills. It is possible that the components on the device can still be reused for various purposes. Meanwhile, those that are completely damaged will be managed for recycling.
- Don’t Waste Unused Batteries
Did you know that batteries used for household needs are also harmful to the environment? Made of nickel-cadmium, alkali, and mercury, household battery waste is categorized as potentially hazardous electronic waste.
The danger posed is not great. However, when the waste is not managed properly and disposed of carelessly, it will certainly become a problem for the environment. Therefore, you should give the waste battery to a company that recycles similar batteries.
In addition to household batteries, batteries used for cars are also classified as dangerous if disposed of carelessly. Giving unused batteries to recycling companies or those who can reuse used batteries is the right step. That way, the used battery will not end up in a landfill.
- Donate Unused Devices
Do your research to participate in a donation program that accepts unused electronic devices. With the need for digital devices in today’s era, donation programs in the form of used cellphones or laptops are certainly widely held.
Make sure that the NGO, community, or organization running the program is trusted. You can also participate in similar programs or even organize your own. That way, devices that are not used will not end up being trash.
- Swap-Add or Return to the Store
When you are going to buy a new electronic device, try to trade in with the old one. Moreover, there are now many large electronics companies that have profitable trade-in programs for their consumers.
For example, by exchanging old products for new ones, you can earn special points that can be exchanged for certain prizes. Not to mention, with the trade-in system, you will spend less on the new product purchase.
In addition to trade-in, you can also sell electronic devices that are no longer used. There are many electronics stores, both online and offline, that are willing to buy used electronics at favorable prices.
Don’t forget to delete all data if you are going to sell or exchange your cellphone or laptop. A thorough reset should also be done so that the settings on the device will return to the way they were at the beginning of your purchase.
Those are some ways to manage electronic waste in an environmentally friendly way. Don’t forget to always buy electronic devices that you really need to reduce unnecessary waste.