Introduction
The growing e-waste problem is one that we all need to pay attention to. Unfortunately, it’s not a topic that most of us would normally consider a priority issue. But as more and more people become aware of the environmental damage caused by electronic waste, they are realizing how important it is for everyone to be mindful of how their old electronics are disposed of. Below are some helpful tips on how you can contribute to the fight against e-waste by recycling responsibly and taking better care of your phone battery.
What is the E-waste problem?
Any electronic product or anything containing electronic components that have reached the end of its functional life cycle is considered electronic garbage, commonly referred to as e-waste. Electronics actually contain harmful materials, which many people are unaware of, thus they must be treated carefully when no longer required or needed.
E-waste has become a problem because there are toxic chemicals in it such as lead, mercury, and arsenic that can leach into water supplies when disposed of improperly or burnt in factories without proper ventilation equipment (which often occurs in developing countries). Additionally, many devices are made from valuable metals such as gold or platinum which remain locked inside our electronics until they reach their end-of-life stage (the stage at which devices stop working). These metals can be extracted by companies that specialize in recycling but this process alone takes up valuable resources like water energy and labor – all while leaving behind large amounts of dangerous chemicals which still need to be treated properly before they are released into our environment again!
Recycle old electronics carefully.
There are many ways to recycle electronic waste, but it’s important that the process be done correctly. Simply throwing an old device in the trash or recycling bin at your home is not enough. The safest way to dispose of electronics is through a certified recycling service. If you’re unsure where to find one near you, check out this list provided by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).
It can also be tempting for someone who knows how computers work to want to fix their own electronics instead of having them recycled professionally. While there are certain instances when this may be acceptable and even beneficial (for example, if there’s only one part that needs replacing), it is generally better for those interested in environmentally friendly practices not to try repairing anything themselves. Even if you have experience with computers and other gadgets and devices, it will still likely take longer than simply handing off your device once again into responsible hands who know how best to handle its disposal and recycling process.
Donate old electronics that are still functional and useful to those in need.
You can donate your old electronics to organizations that refurbish them and give them to people who need them. For example, Goodwill® has a partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Cristina Foundation, and others in which they collect electronic waste from businesses, schools, and others. They then refurbish the items and sell them in their retail stores or distribute them to clients who lack access to computers and internet service.
This helps our environment by keeping e-waste out of landfills while providing valuable resources for those who might not be able to afford newer technology options.
Buy better quality electronics, such as those that are certified by EPEAT.
EPEAT is a certification program that’s been in existence since 2006. It rates products based on their environmental impact and energy-efficient features, as well as how easily they can be repaired and recycled.
It isn’t difficult to find EPEAT-certified products; you just need to look for the label! If you’re unsure whether something is an EPEAT-certified product, take a look at its packaging or manual. The label should be somewhere within your reach.
Some of the benefits of buying EPEAT-certified electronics include:
- They’re more durable than non-certified products
- They have better support services so they last longer (and save money!) when they do break down
- They save electricity by using less power than other types of electronic devices
Save on your phone’s memory
1. Delete unused apps
There are several ways you can free up space on your Android phone:
Delete unwanted apps. You don’t need every app, so delete the ones you aren’t using. You can always re-download them if you change your mind.
Remove pictures from the Camera Roll and consider deleting some old ones. If they’re not in an album yet, they take up space until you move them there.
Clear the cache on your browser and other apps that store data online (like Amazon). Clearing the cache deletes temporary files — useful for troubleshooting but not a big deal if something goes wrong. The real savings come from clearing the data stored by all of these apps; this will erase any login information or other personalized information that’s stored locally on your device.
2. Free up storage by converting video files to MP4
Video files take up a lot of space, especially when they’re not compressed as much as possible before being saved to your device’s memory card or internal storage space. You can convert video files from AVI to MP4, MKV to MP4, and MOV to MP4.
Take care of your Phone’s battery with these tips
There are many ways you can extend the life of your phone’s battery. One of the most important is to not leave it plugged in overnight. By doing this, you won’t be draining your phone’s battery during sleep and running down its charge before you wake up.
In addition to not leaving your phone plugged in overnight, there are a few other things that will help keep it from dying too quickly:
- Avoid using the phone while charging because this increases heat levels and shortens battery life.
- Don’t leave it in direct sunlight or near other sources of heat (like on top of your laptop). Also, avoid extremely cold places like refrigerators and freezers since extreme temperatures can damage lithium-ion batteries over time. This can also cause fires when batteries get too hot!
Conclusion
Ultimately, the only way to minimize e-waste is to change our purchasing habits. We have a responsibility to continue asking questions about the provenance and life cycle of our electronics. Fortunately, policy changes can fix most of these underlying issues. Countries need to get serious about enforcing policies that are designed to protect the environment from harmful substances. In addition to this, they should also consider incentivizing manufacturers who create their products with an eye towards repairability and recyclability, as well as mandating recycling and take-back programs for consumers. Hopefully, this will lead us on a path toward a more sustainable model of consumption, with less emphasis on planned obsolescence and end-of-life waste.
Photo byinsung yoon onUnsplash.
