E-waste is the fastest-growing category of rubbish in the world, with the UN describing it as a “tsunami”. Australia produces some 700,000 tonnes of e-waste annually, of which only a small fraction is recycled or disposed of responsibly. So how can we do better?
Here are some of the ways you can extend the life of your devices and keep your tech waste – including smartphones, tablets, computers and batteries – out of the landfill.
When was the last time you upgraded your smartphone or replaced your tablet or laptop? If the old ones still work well, why not pass them on?
Maybe you know a parent who is looking for a first device for their child, or you have an elderly neighbour who could use a backup phone for emergencies. Pop a post up on Facebook, and chances are someone will put their hand up. If you don’t find a taker, try your luck selling it on Gumtree or eBay.
There are an estimated 23 million unused mobile phones in Australia alone. While not quite worth their weight in gold, each one contains enough plastics and precious metals to make it worth recycling – even with a smashed screen or dead battery. Phones, computers, game consoles and batteries contribute not only to that “tsunami” of waste in landfills but to the toxic pollution of soil and waterways.
Recycling tech devices is easy with the many recycling programs, drop-off points, collection services and charities using recycled phones and other technologies to raise money. Here are just a few examples:
The jury is still out on whether single-use batteries – like the standard AA kind you use in many controls and toys – should go in the rubbish. While most are no longer made with nasty heavy metals and are much safer to throw away, there are still better alternatives. Officeworks, for example, offer a free battery recycling service at all their Aussie stores.
The rechargeable batteries from your phone and computer devices contain lots of nasties like nickel and cadmium and should definitely stay out of your rubbish bin.
Battery World and Suez will take them off your hands for recycling or safe disposal. Or, if you’re feeling particularly resourceful, you could try creating a recycling point and create something yourself.
Then there are the batteries from Tesla Powerwalls – they’re lithium-ion and maximise the effect of solar power systems by storing solar-generated electricity. They have a pretty decent lifespan (over 10 years), so they only need to be replaced occasionally.
But as more people choose this technology, we’ll see a bigger demand for effective recycling solutions – a challenge for lithium-based batteries. While Tesla refines its “closed-loop” recycling program, Victorians at least can take advantage of their state’s new lithium battery recycling centre.
