One of the most important problems that we have to face due to the very high ecological and social cost it has is technological waste or WEEE (Waste electrical and electronic equipment). This type of garbage is especially polluting because it includes a large amount of heavy metals that are highly polluting and extremely toxic to health.
One of the most complicated aspects when managing this type of waste is what to do with tech garbage since, precisely due to the presence of this type of heavy metals, they cannot be disposed of in the traditional garbage can. If you want to know a little more about this type of garbage, its consequences and what solutions exist to counteract its environmental effects, keep reading Green Ecology in which we will tell you about it.
Definition of technological garbage
Of all the goods produced by today's consumer society, one of the most harmful due to its toxicity and the large amount of waste that is generated annually is the so-called technological waste. This type of garbage refers to electronic and electrical equipment that has become obsolete. It is generally understood to refer to devices such as mobile phones and computers.
However, in reality, technological waste is considered all that waste that, to function during its useful life, have needed to use electricityEither from a battery or an electrical outlet. Thus, some examples of what is considered electrical waste are:
- The mobiles.
- The computers.
- The refrigerators.
- The washing machines.
- TVs.
- Small household appliances.
- Screens.
- Computer equipment of any kind.
- Photovoltaic panels.
- Led lamps.
- Professional luminaires.
- Electronic toys.
As you can see, this is a very large amount of waste, since, currently, a large part of the garbage that is produced, especially in developed countries, is garbage of this nature.
What are the dangers of tech waste?
The big problem that stems from technology junk arises from the heavy metals it contains. These are teams that include mercury, lead, chromium and cadmium in most cases, in addition to many other metals in different proportions. These metals are especially toxic, and an intoxication caused by them, no matter how small, can lead to diseases of the nervous, respiratory and cardiovascular systems, as well as diseases associated with the kidneys and the reproductive system that will affect the patient throughout his life.
Likewise, when these metals are released into the environment, the effect of their pollution affects the air so much (when tech waste burns and produces toxic smoke) like land and water, becoming a really pressing problem in the places where this type of electronic waste is stored in the form of technological landfills.
In addition, another problem with technological waste is the speed with which it has increased in recent years. This is due to effect of obsolescence. This obsolescence can be of two types:
- You can come factory programmed by the manufacturers, who thus ensure that the buyer has to buy another product again as we explain in the following article on programmed obsolescence.
- As well as the users themselves, who dispose of their technology equipment while it is still in good condition solely for the purpose of purchasing newer and newer equipment. This has a terrible effect, as it is highly polluting waste and cannot be managed correctly, partly due to the rapidity with which it accumulates.
What can we do with technological garbage
There are a series of solutions to counteract the effect of technological waste and, despite the fact that it is a type of waste that requires a very specific treatment, the good news is that the main capacity for action to counteract its effect has the user himself, which, unlike what happens on other occasions with pollution, gives it exceptional power to reverse the effect of technological waste. To do this, the most important thing is to prevent technological waste from accumulating, that is, reduce its quantity. And, when it finally occurs, manage it correctly.
Reduce your technology consumption
It's very simple, but most people don't. Electronic products are essential in our day to day. However, this does not imply that we need to buy a new one just for the fact that it is precisely new. If we think about purchases made from mobile phones or computers, 90% of the time, they are purchases motivated by fashion and vanity, not by necessity. The lesson is clear, you don't need the latest model phone, so don't buy it. Take advantage of the one you have until it really stops working. Do the same with all the electrical appliances you have. In addition to reducing the pollution you generate, you will save a lot of money.
Fix before you buy
On the other hand, one way to reduce technological waste is through fix equipment when it breaks instead of acquiring new ones. Currently, it is often said that it is that "it is more profitable to buy a new one than to fix the old one." This is not always the case, in fact, it is a phrase repeated especially by manufacturers, who are the ones who are most interested in you buying their new product. In addition, although in some cases it can be “profitable” from a purely monetary perspective, the planet does not pay at all if you do not fix it. So, please be responsible, and fix before you buy.
Second hand purchase
It may not have crossed their minds to many, but there is a second-hand market that works perfectly when it comes to electronic equipment and technology. You can do it through collaborative economy platforms dedicated to the second-hand market, or in specialized stores. In the case of stores, you also have the certainty that you have a purchase guarantee. In fact, the technology products they sell are often referred to as "refurbished." A refurbished technology product is equipment that has been tuned and made ready for sale to the public. It is a second-hand product, but it has been washed outside and inside (the software is formatted and a new one is installed) so that the user can enjoy a second-hand product that, in reality, is as good as if it were first class.
Take it to a clean point
Finally, when the tech product is truly tech junk because it has ended its useful life, the right thing to do is get rid of it by taking it to a clean point, which is the place where ordinary citizens must carry these types of products to ensure that they are treated in the correct and safe way they need. From the clean point, the technological waste will be transported to a treatment plant suitable for this type of waste. This means that it will be processed in safe conditions that allow each of the materials to be separated for recycling, giving them a new life and preventing them from polluting the environment or poisoning the people who handle them.
If you want to read more articles similar to What to do with tech junk, we recommend that you enter our Recycling and waste management category.
