The challenge of electronic waste

Electronic devices are increasingly present in our daily lives, and the arrival of Covid-19 increased their use, forcing us to have the resources we need to work from home. New versions, software updates, specific chargers… old devices pile up in our homes, neither used nor recycled. Sometimes because we don’t know whether we will use them again, other times because we don’t know what to do with them.

International E-Waste Day is celebrated every 14 October. This year’s slogan, “Anything with a plug, a battery or a cable can be recycled”, focuses on the possibility of recycling the materials in all those items that are not treated properly because they are not considered electronic waste, and end up gathering dust in a drawer.

What is invisible electronic waste?

Remote controls, e-cigarettes, headphones… They end up in landfills because consumers don’t think of them as recyclable.

As the magazine Residuos Profesional reports, in our homes we mostly keep small electronic products and accessories that sit unused in drawers and cupboards. As a result, the resources these devices contain are not recovered.

Planned obsolescence

Something that doesn’t help is planned obsolescence. This technique, used to make electronic products stop working after a set time, deliberately shortens their life so that consumers buy new devices.

The European Union has got to work to tackle this practice. On the one hand, a law against greenwashing is in the pipeline that will require manufacturers to provide information on the durability of their products. That way, consumers will be able to make the best decision.

The EU is also working on a “right to repair”. The European Parliament proposed extending the warranty period of products and giving consumers the right to ask for a repair instead of a replacement. All of this is linked to Extended Producer Responsibility, which should establish what happens to a product when it is no longer useful.

Recycling electronic devices

So what do we do with devices that no longer work? They are complex items made of highly polluting materials, such as mercury, lead or arsenic, which harm health and the environment.

That is why it is important to recycle them so they are treated in the best possible way. To prevent them from ending up in landfills or incinerators, you should take them to a green point, where their raw materials can be used to make new devices. There are also electronics shops where you can take this waste so they can make use of it.

Remember… If an electronic device breaks, try to repair it before throwing it away. And if it has reached the end of its life, recycle it in the best way by taking it to a green point. You can find more tips on where to dispose of electronic devices that no longer work in our Instagram post.