If there’s one thing we know, it’s that technology is continually evolving. This is what we love about it. The excitement of the next Apple product, the newest TV or car. Innumerable websites keep up with rumors and changes, and companies show off their latest and greatest technology and electronics at countless conventions.
But there’s one big problem with this. What happens to our old stuff when we move on to the next thing?
Our used electronic waste, also known as e-waste, should be a concern for everyone. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, the electronics industry generates up to 41 million tons of e-waste a year. The problem with this e-waste is that it’s typically really bad for the environment. Not only is the general buildup of waste bad, but our electronics contain harmful products.
A lot of our waste can end up in countries like Kenya or Ghana, where electronics recyclers burn off products’ plastic and rubber parts to get to the precious metals, which they resell. This burning of waste releases harmful airborne toxins. While some people favor the economic benefits of dumping our waste outside the United States, this practice does no favors to the environment.
Think about this: According to the EPA for every million smartphones recycled we can get back 35,274 pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold and 33 pounds of palladium. Not only does this reduce energy used when building new devices, it also lessens the need for raw materials to be mined in the first place.
The EPA further says that for every 1 million laptops recycled, the saved energy is equivalent to the electricity used by 3,500 U.S. homes in a year.
Green way to get rid of old devices
If you’ve already tossed your iPhone 3G and 4S, that’s OK. But next time you’re ready to get rid of an old device, think about recycling it.
If you haven’t tossed all your old gear yet, get it recycled today. The Cult of Mac buyback program is not only set up for trading in your old device for cash, but also for recycling old devices.
Your old electronics might not be worth anything, but recycling them responsibly is better than putting them in the landfill. We’ll take worthless old products off your hands for free and give you peace of mind that you didn’t screw up the Earth a little more today.
