E-waste companies around the world have been constantly warning us about the problem of e-waste generation across continents. E-waste is an informal term and very popular at the moment because it is easily relatable and comprises any goods and consumer as well as business electronics that we use on a daily basis. The biggest reason why electronic recycling services have risen in demand is that we are constantly producing more and more electronic waste around the world. E-waste is created when our electronic items come to the end of their useful life cycle. For example, our refrigerators and air conditioners, cell phones and smartphones, electronics such as laptops and computers, fax machines, printers, food processors, ovens and microwaves, and many other electrical appliances that we have discarded up until now and continue to do so comprise electronic waste.
Making The Distinction Between Commodity And Waste
Probable Solution To The E-Waste Problem?
Experts are of the opinion that distinguishing between waste “electronics” and “commodities” is very critical to solving this problem. Today, there are numerous exporters and manufacturers that do not follow the guidelines of the leading e-waste companies and continue to deliberately mix difficult-to-recycle and non-repairable equipment with working equipment and sell them off to other countries. These electronic items contain both obsolete and current appliances and goods. Therefore, distinguishing between commodities and waste products becomes very difficult.
There is a high value attached particularly to the computer recycling subset under the electronic waste category. Our working and recently outdated desktops, laptops and other components and peripherals can be put to reuse provided there is a little bit more diligence about it.
According to a recent study, Ghana had received a consignment from another country of about 215,000 tons of electronics out of which 30% was completely brand-new and 70% was used. This is the situation of e-waste in several developed countries. The electronic items that we are readily discarding as obsolete and unusable can be used optimally and completely and still possess a huge scope for repurposing and reusability.
What Can Be Done About The Problem Of Electronic Waste?
The leading electronic recycling service providers and several e-waste companies around the world are focusing on creating ways to remove hazardous components from electronic products. Moving towards the use of safer and reusable components as a replacement of older materials is one very effective way of curbing the problem of e-waste so that it doesn’t cause any harm to our environment. Is this solution going to be the future of our digital age? Only time will tell.
