Get rid of old devices responsibly without spending a fortune!

We need (and love) technology

Like it or not, electronic gadgets have become essential to everyday life. Nowadays, you don’t need to be a nerd to own (at least) a laptop and a smartphone. These tools are not only great for work or to connect with other people. You can also watch your favourite movie on your laptop, or pay for your shopping using your smartphone. Technological devices are everywhere, making our daily tasks easier. And they are improved and made more efficient and powerful every day.

But technology can be bad for the environment

As exciting as that might sound, there is a big downside to the unstoppable technologic advancements. They create the need to have the newest model, in a sort of race to be best equipped. And getting the latest shiny smartphone is not only a cosmetic necessity: have you ever tried installing a new app on the smartphone you bought two years ago? All companies are making their products obsolete usually after a year, forcing their customers to get rid of their ‘not so old, but not enough new’ gadgets and regularly buying their new products.

It’s a winning marketing strategy for them, but a big waste of money for us, and a loss for the environment: a record 62 million tonnes of e-waste was produced in 2022, up 82% from 2010, according to the United Nations Global E-Waste Monitor.

And we are not talking only about plastic pollution here. Your beloved phone contains hazardous metals like lead, mercury and cadmium which contaminate soil and water when not properly discarded. That ends up entering the food chain and affecting local communities and wildlife.

Last but not least, this “throw away” culture increases the consumption of raw materials needed to build new tech, intensifying the loss of valuable and irreplaceable natural resources. Moreover the production and disposal of new tech are energy – intensive and have a huge carbon footprint. This is why learning how to recycle our old electronics sustainably is crucial if we don’t want them to contribute to climate change.

Dispose of e-waste the right way with these recycling tips!

So what should you do about this? There are several ways you can reduce your technological footprint by extending your tech lifespan:

• Buy less frequently
• Buy second hand and/or refurbished
• Upcycling and finding new uses for old devices
• Repair. With a little bit of research, you will find a Youtube video explaining how to fix any technical issue your device might have. Or you can find a lot of expertise in online communitites like iFixit.

It is not only maintaining and repairing your electronics instead of replacing them. It is also the way we dispose of our gadget when they reach the end of their life that can make a huge difference in our contribution towards the environment. Even if we take the best care of our possessions, we will all need to replace our laptop or smartphone at some point. But there are many alternatives to simply throwing everything in the rubbish. Let’s look at some of them together…

• Sell online on second hand marketplaces. If your phone is still in working condition, you can find someone who will buy it. You can even sell your phone if it’s not working, as some buyers will be looking for parts.
• Trade old devices in. Exchange them for cash or store credit
• Donate to charities, schools or community centers. There are A LOT of organizations which will take your unwanted technology and give it to people in need.
• Recycle responsibly. If your laptop is too old or broken and you can’t sell or donate it, a quick search online will tell you your nearest recycling centre. There you can drop your electronic waste and where certified professionals will dispose of it following safe disposal standards. It is also worth checking if your manufacturer or retailer has a collection program, where it takes back old tech.

Stay safe – remember to always erase your personal information

Whatever you decide to do, remember to wipe all your personal data from these machines; that means not only dragging all your photos and document to the trash bin, but also factory resetting your laptop or phone so that nobody can access your (and your contacts) information. Apparently, even if you delete all the files stored in your laptop, somebody with the right software can retrieve those data from the hard drive. If you don’t know how to securely erase personal information, there are companies that can do it for you. I had a big clear out recently of a bunch of technological gadgets, I held on them much longer that I should have and they were all very old and/or broken so couldn’t really sell them; I contacted a local non profit recycling organization that could refurbish and donate them, and offered free collection and data wiping.

A little research will take you a long (green) way

Do your research, and you’ll find a student in need of a laptop, or a charity raising money for a good cause, which will make good use of your unwanted tech. Worst case scenario, you will find a way to recycle it properly and it won’t end up polluting our land.

Another little step for us, but a huge help for our environment.

Are you looking for other tips to reduce your waste? You can find our suggestions on how to reduce your food waste here!