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Improper disposal of broken gadgets contributes to the 2.6 million tons of hazardous and dangerous electronics that get sent to landfills each year. While devices and gadgets must be discarded eventually, from the risk of fire to losing precious metals, there are some costs.
Growing Global E-Waste
E-waste is one of the biggest issues of getting rid of excess devices rather than fixing them. Instead of discarding an appliance, repairing it can get more life from it. Of course, it can be cheaper and easier to buy a new one, but there’s nothing like an appliance that does what you need. This is especially true of older devices. You can always find replacement parts for top brands like Electrolux and other well-known appliance manufacturers to reduce your e-waste.
The Risk of Electrical Fires
There are many dangerous chemicals in modern electronic devices and appliances, not least of which are the batteries in use. Chemicals in batteries, such as lithium, can cause fires and even explode under certain circumstances, which poses a hazard in the home if you stockpile old devices. It also poses a severe risk at landfills where workers are exposed to these hazards on a daily basis., which is why it’s important to send your e-waste to a specialist recycling facility.
Throwing Away Broken Gadgets is Toxic
Forever chemicals pose a serious risk to health. There are over 10,000 different polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) used in modern appliances and devices. Upgrading your IT devices is necessary now and then, but it doesn’t mean you should replace devices without careful consideration. There are many excellent refurbishment teams that work hard to bring old phones, computers, and even video game consoles back to life. With today’s prices, it can save you some cash too.
Loss of Precious Materials
Most people aren’t aware that there are precious metals and materials inside modern devices. This includes gold, silver, quartz, and coltan. Coltan is especially prevalent in smartphones. Not recycling your device leads to a loss of these rare, precious metals that could otherwise easily be reused in future devices. When you send your equipment to a specialist center, they can extract the metals so they can be used again in new equipment.
Increased Extraction of Resources
Like losing precious metals from not recycling, getting rid of e-waste in the wrong way will also increase the need for them. When these metals aren’t extracted from old devices, the demand for fresh materials increases. Mining resources such as gold, coltan, and quartz is damaging to the planet, and there are even black market industries around precious metals and minerals. Ensuring your devices are recycled properly will help reduce the need for new resources.
Summary
The global e-waste problem is growing as people are throwing away broken gadgets in landfills instead of recycling them. Many devices, such as TVs, smartphones, and tablets, can leak hazardous chemicals that pose a risk to landfill workers and children in underdeveloped countries. It also means precious resources such as gold and coltan must be overmined.