What will you do with your old mobile phone?
Have you ever thought about what happens with things when we finish using them? And how much waste was created in order to produce them? For a long time I´ve been aware of the importance of recycling and have tried to dispose my waste in a responsible way. But there are certain products that usually don´t have a special bin in the cities´ recycling systems –generally divided in plastic, glass, paper and “others” that won´t be recycled- such as electronic products.
New models of computers, laptops, tablets, phones that can do almost everything –probably even your laundry-, MP3 & MP4 players, and other electronic gadgets, keep coming up with better functions. Everyone is in the race to have the newest. But what happens with the old ones? Do we keep consuming and throwing away as if it had no consequences?
Electronic products are produced mainly with plastics, metals, glass, ceramic and coltain. When these materials are disposed in a landfill or incinerated they create a negative impact in the environment. But this impact can be avoided, because lots of these materials can be recycled. Recycling these materials wouldn´t only help reduce waste, but also reduce unnecessary extraction of natural resources that harms the environment.
Consumers have an important role to play because they are the ones that have the product and can decide what to do with it: turn it into waste or turn it into something new. But even if the products are their property, companies should take responsibility too because they are offering in the market products made of materials that can be harmfull if not treated in the right way. Producers should look for efficiency in their production process and offer their clients alternatives for a responsible disposal of the product they have purchased. With an intelligent waste plan, possibly old products could be recycled into materials for new products.
Some companies in the electronic industry are already in this path and have launched different recycling programs. They have still many challenges, like improving communication to reach all of their clients, make the incentives more attractive, and include recycled materials in their new products, but at least it’s a starting point!
Some options if you are thinking to discard your old electronic devices:
- Apple Recycling Program: you can get a 10% discount on a new Ipod or mobile phone by taking the old one.
- Dell Recycling Programs: there are several programs targeted for different types of clients. They offer assistance in recycling and reusing equipments, printers and tonners. One of the programs includes donating used technology to social causes.
- Nokia: They have set recycling points in the Nokia Care Centers all over the world so clients can drop off their old mobile phone and they take it to an authorized recycling company.
Now that you know there are options, what will you do?
References:
- http://www.apple.com/recycling/
- http://www.dell.com/learn/us/en/uscorp1/dell-environment-recycling
- http://www.e-stewards.org/the-e-waste-crisis/
- http://www.nokia.com/global/about-nokia/people-and-planet/sustainable-devices/recycling/recycling/
Comments Off on What will you do with your old mobile phone? /
05 Feb 2014
por
celinalesta
IMSD /
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