What do you do with a device - be it smartphone, laptop, computer, or other accessory – when you no longer have any need for it?
Do you resell the item, donate it, dispose of it sustainably, or consider it waste and simply throw it away?
In this blog, we’re considering the impact of technology waste on landfill sites, alongside the growing popularity of what’s known as e-cycling – that is, recycling technology so that it has a further positive impact through donation, through resale, or as a worst case scenario through sustainable disposal.
The impact of technology waste on landfill
Not only is e-waste incredibly wasteful when it ends up on a landfill pile, but it also wreaks havoc on the surrounding environment by leaking chemicals and toxins into the soil and nearby waterways. This, when left to fester, makes its way gradually into the food chain – literally bringing the problem back to our own doorstep.
However, the problem with e-waste and its link to landfill is that many of these landfill sites are located overseas and are thus not in the line of sight of those causing the most damage through waste. What this means is that despite the problem growing, it is not one that many consumers are aware of until certain initiatives bring the issues to their attention – and this is not being done enough.
What is e-cycling and how can you get involved in the e-cycling movement?
E-cycling is an alternative form of technology disposal which sees each unwanted device follow one of a number of potential paths. But before we share the best solutions to consider, we first want to bust a quick myth.
While simple recycling is certainly better than throwing the device away for landfill, it is not a particularly efficient or effective way of nurturing a more ethical approach to e-cycling. When devices are recycled, they are stripped down with the most useful components removed – while much of the rest of the device is considered e-waste and still ends up in landfill.
Far better than basic recycling methods are the following options, which ensure that your unwanted tech devices are not only saved from landfill but could even contribute towards a more positive future.
Donation
When it comes to ethical IT disposal solutions, this is up there as one of the best options. When you donate an unwanted device via a reputable organisation, your data is first wiped completely to protect your personal information before the device is taken on for assessment. Any repair work and refurbishment will be completed by the organisation before donating the device via a charity partner, to local communities in need or international charity groups.
Any device which cannot be passed on is stripped for useful components and then disposed of safely, in line with proper electronics disposal standards.
Reselling
If you’d rather reap the rewards of a like-new device but still get yourself an upgrade, you can always resell your own device on a secondary marketplace site. Just make sure that you wipe your data effectively before sending the device to its new owner!
Why not simply delay your next upgrade?
Of course, if you really want to save money then the best thing you can personally do for the environment is reconsider your need for an upgraded device. Whether you’re a corporate business supplying employees with phones and laptops, or an individual after the latest smartphone, the market around upgrades is what feeds the problem of e-waste and is what contributes towards this becoming such an epidemic.
By rethinking your upgrade and focussing instead on keeping your device for longer, you save yourself money and you lessen the demand for new devices which have a detrimental impact on the environment.
The work of Computer Aid
Here at Computer Aid, we operate in the donation camp – receiving donated devices which are either in good condition or which can be used for parts prior to disposal, ensuring that every usable laptop, computer, and device is given to a community or group in need.
Our work enables us to protect the environment from landfill while also empowering marginalised communities and those in need with the access to technology which could transform their lives, their fortunes, and their opportunities. Best of all, we make it easy for businesses and individuals alike to join us, by doing all the hard work for you! All you have to do is get in touch with us to find out how your unwanted and stored technology – the stuff you don’t need – could have a huge positive impact on others.