From Closet Rummaging to Phone Buy Back: How to Manage E-Waste

I’ve discovered a few interesting things just now after I cleaned my drawers. I got three (formerly lost) working charger cables and tangles upon tangles of wired headphones. Chances are you got this same scenario: unused, often unwanted, phone accessories buried deep in bag pouches and table drawers—and you’ve always been meaning to buy a new wire!

Here’s the thing: discarded electrical or electronic devices, collectively called e-waste, are becoming a threat. The United Nations believes that e-waste can rise to 50 million metric tons by 2018 at this rate of about two million metric tons a year. One-quarter of this amount is accounted for by personal electronic devices. In the US, while e-waste only makes up about 2% of total waste but equals 70% of toxic wastes. For what it’s worth, many of these e-waste materials aren’t really waste at all but whole equipment that can effectively be recycled.

The problem: about 75% of old electronics lounge in the home because of the lack of recycling options. But fret not! With our own little efforts from wire repair to phone buy-back, we can collectively help curb the growth of this technological blunder.

1. Trash bins are no-no

Let’s get to the heart of the issue, shall we? Never place tech peripherals, whether functional or broken, in the trash as these will eventually be dumped in landfills. The end result? More toxic waste. Read on and you’ll find that there are more responsible ways to get rid of these things.

2. Burning is a MAJOR no-no

So, you didn’t put your three-year-old earbuds in the trash bin—but are you seriously thinking of burning it along with some autumn leaves? If you are, turn around and stop. Burning e-waste does not only allow for explosions (whether mini or large-scale), but they also release fumes that can harm your neighbor, your pet, your family, and yourself.

3. Pass it forward

As kids, we’re taught to “pay it forward,” or to spread kindness. As for your tech thingamajigs, pass it forward. Sure, you might have fully transitioned to the wireless trend, but that doesn’t mean your friends have. As an extra act of kindness, pass on your unused but still working peripherals such as mice, speakers, and even phones. They’ll love you more for it, trust me.

4. Bundle things together

This is the answer to all your tiny tech things woes. If they’re wired, bundle them together with a rubber band or a Velcro strip; if they’re not, provide even a simple box where they could stay…and not be lost the moment you take them out of the packaging. This method can help you not splurge on the latest peripheral and avoid the piling up of redundant accessories.

5. Save, not splurge

Speaking of spending money, it’s better to invest in quality than upgrading yearly for some “extra” feature. You most probably will use this extra twice or thrice a month, tops, so you’re better off saving that dollar. That way, you actually have the money to buy a deal-breaking drool-worthy device, not some beefed-up version of the one-year-old handset.

6. Go for greener solutions

Companies like Samsung and Apple have buy-back policies, which means they exchange your phones with credits that you can use to buy things from their store. If you feel that this is a lockdown that you cannot stomach, there are other viable options. EcoATMs, for example, are kiosks found all over the country and are relatively easy to use. If you prefer to sell to people, phone buy-back sites such as Swift Tech Buy can help you turn your money into cash as well.

The tech world isn’t showing signs of slowing down anytime soon, and that means more devices for us (yay!) and more ensuing e-waste (nay!) It’s, therefore, our job to make sure that the growth of technology pushes forward our ideals and dreams instead of the next two metric tons of circuitry straight to the dump site.

About the writer. Luigie Hadap is a Filipino writer and educator who devours tech updates when he gets his hands on them and students when they get too rowdy (luckily they don’t).