Here’s why you should never throw out old devices, gadgets or other electronics in the trash — and great ideas for what to do instead:
You’ve just got the iPhone 13 and can’t contain your excitement. Finally, you can dispose of your old phone with a terrible camera and annoying battery life. Or you got your hands on the PlayStation 5 and can’t wait to toss your PS2 in the trash. But trashing your gadgets and electronics is not just irresponsible, but harmful.
Toxic trash
The biggest reason that you should never throw out old or unwanted gadgets or devices is because electronics contain harmful substances like lead, arsenic, and cadmium. These substances are dangerous for the environment and to our health in the long run. When you toss electronics or batteries in the trash, they end up at a landfill or refuse site where they’re buried, burned, or even picked apart by people. Their toxic substances eventually find their way into the soil, destroying plants and animals.
In some rare cases, when humans handle toxic soil or ingest such plants, it could cause high blood pressure, mood disorders, and stillbirth in women. You wouldn’t want any of those happening to someone you know, right?
You might wonder, if these gadgets can cause this much harm, what should I do with them? Here’s what you can do with your old gadgets instead of throwing them away:
Re-purpose your devices
That these devices are nearing their shelf life doesn’t automatically make them e-waste. They are still whole electrical equipment that are readily re-marketable for reuse. With a bit of thought and creativity, you can give these gadgets a new purpose. If they still work, you can use them for a less power-hungry purpose like an alarm clock, background sound maker, kitchen menu display, security display, and so on.
Recycle your gadgets
Or, better still, you can turn your electronics in for recycling.
The modern smartphone, tablet or laptop contains “rare earth” minerals like gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. These minerals are in limited supply from the ground, and getting them is tasking. Electronics can also contain copper, lithium, and manganese, which are useful in developing new products. All of these would be difficult to retrieve if they end up back in the ground because of careless disposal.
Research shows that the world generates over 53 million tons of waste yearly, but sadly, only about 17 percent of it is actually being recycled properly. You can be more eco-friendly by looking up local recycling programs in your state. Big companies like Staples, Best Buy, Dell, and Apple also accept devices for recycling.
Avoid security risks
Whether you sell, donate, or recycle your phone, tablet or computer, you should erase all the information stored on it. That way, you’re sure your data can’t be accessed by a third party. Some hackers can access your phone data and carry out nefarious activities, like accessing your bank account or gaining access to your pictures and emails. This can often happen if you just throw out your old gadgets without erasing or resetting them.
If your device is damaged, it’s smart to repair it before disposing of it. You can search for a computer repair near me online to find a computer repair technician. You can also search ‘PC and Mac computer repair near me.’ This will help you format the data if you plan on donating it. Many refurbishing firms will say they’ll erase your data, but it’s best to do it yourself to clear any doubt.
Gift someone
Better still, you could consider donating your old gadgets and electronics to family members, friends, or charitable causes. Remember that it’s all about value perception. What may be useless to you might be valuable to someone else. Some organizations, schools, or non-profit groups may know someone who will benefit from your old device.
Don’t break the law
Beyond the effect on the environment and the data security risks, you could also be on the wrong side of the law. Some countries have strict federal laws about e-waste disposal, but in the United States, such federal laws aren’t always clear. The US Resource Conservation and Recovery Act focuses on controlling hazardous waste management, of which e-waste is inclusive.
However, over 25 states have e-waste laws in place and states like California, Oklahoma, and Oregon have stricter e-waste laws and measures. These states have also mandated that manufacturers cover the costs of collating and recycling their products. So to be on the right side of the law, you’ll want to recycle or re-purpose your gadgets. All in all, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Start now
Now that you know why you should never throw out old gadgets and what you can do with them instead, it’s time to go through your closets and junk drawers to see if there is anything that you can repair, re-purpose, recycle, or gift. Doing that now will ensure that your unwanted electronics aren’t carelessly thrown those out in the future.
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