How to Handle e-Waste
Unlike an orange, an electronic product takes a lot of engineering to produce. And within the spectrum of what’s out there, electronically, quality AND environmental planning vary widely. Some electronic products are built to last, can be easily repaired, and have labels showing what to do and when it’s time to recycle or dispose of them. But it’s the notion that we never really consume an electronic product but are instead just using it, being its keeper until we pass it on to the next generation. The idea that our use of electronics is only temporary in its life-cycle resonates with me. The various plastics, exotic metals, and chemicals that make up an electronic product don’t break down safely in the environment and must be handled with care when their useful life is finished. Known as “e-waste,” we have a great responsibility here. So what can we do? How can we make the most intelligent purchases and end-of-life decisions with electronics once we are done using them? Unlike an orange, they aren’t just going to disappear.
e-waste is collecting around the world at an alarming rate and poses serious risks to human, animal, and environmental health. Image Courtesy: Geneva Environment Network
Regarding e-waste, here are a few, staggering stats to put things in perspective (via Tonerbuzz.com):
Worldwide a record 48.6 million tons (53.6 million metric tonnes) of e-waste was generated in 2019.
In 2019 the e-waste output of the world weighed the equivalent of 350 cruise ships.
The US alone produced 6.92 million tons of e-waste in 2019, roughly 46lbs per person.
So what’s the big deal? Well, a lot of the materials needed to make electronic devices function are toxic and hazardous and require proper disposal (or recycling) to ensure they don’t create a risk to human health and the environment. However, in 2019 only 17.4% of discarded electronic devices were appropriately recycled. So what can you PERSONALLY do about e-waste??? Here are some great tips from Blue Clover (BCdevices.com):
BEFORE BUYING:
1. Never buy electronics on impulse. Electronics require a lot of engineering and it's essential that we take our time with the decision.
2. No logo, no deal. If we can't figure out who the manufacturer (or brand) is, then nobody is backing up the product, which should be a huge red flag about quality, safety, security, privacy, and more.
3. Check warranty. A long warranty is a good proxy for quality.
4. Check manufacturer’s website to see if there is a manual, replacement parts, support articles, etc.
5. Check iFixit repairability score. Even without the score, it's helpful if the manuals are online.
6. Check the reviews on Amazon or other retail site. It can't hurt, although there are many reports of suspicious reviews.
7. Check for ioXt security certification.
8. Check for Climate Neutral, 1% For the Planet, ENERGY STAR, or other environmental certs.
AFTER BUYING:
1. Use it or lose it. Try to use the devices you have on a regular basis so that you know they are operating well and that you remember how to use them. If it's a "once every 5 years" kind of thing, consider renting/borrowing instead of owning.
2. Repair or replace broken devices. Keeping broken things around can have a negative impact on your mood.
3. Check manufacturer’s support pages for troubleshooting tips.
4. If manufacturer's site isn't enough, look up how to fix it more generally in a search engine or iFixit. Model numbers are our friends.
5. Search the map for electronics repair. The category was left for dead but it’s coming back.
6. Can’t affordably be fixed? Check e-stewards for a recycling drop off site nearby. - http://e-stewards.org/. E-stewards is part of Basel Action Network (BAN), the group that hides trackers inside of recycled electronics to actually verify that the devices are being safely recycled instead of dumped.
7. Batteries have their own treatment (someone please invent a compostable battery!). You can drop off batteries at locations of Advance Auto Parts and Walmart in and around the Portland, Oregon area for recycling. If this isn’t your area just Google it. Some cities offer free battery recycling pick-up where others have locations for safe drop-off. Don’t ever just throw batteries in the garbage.
More Resources
Want to read more about the issue of e-waste and what’s being done to clean it up? See this article from the EPA.gov.