Tips For An E-Waste Free Christmas

In this electronic age, new shiny gadgets and gizmos top our Christmas wish lists to replace our old and not-as-shiny-but-still-functional ones.

Consequently, our high demand for new electronics increases our generation of electronic waste or e-waste.

Discarded computers, office electronic equipment, entertainment device electronics, mobile phones, television sets, and refrigerators are all considered e-waste whether it is working or not.

In the Philippines alone, the United Nations University StEP-initiative reported that the country generated 244 metric kilotonnes of e-waste in 2012. Many of these devices contain toxic metals (lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, selenium) and can stream into our environment if not managed properly.

Most of these items haphazardly find their way to landfills and open pits rather than facilities equipped to treat hazardous waste. In addition, the International Labour Organisation’s 2004 study found that children are exploited to scavenge through mixed waste for recyclables/re-usable in legal and illegal landfills, dumpsites, street bins and may come in contact with improperly disposed e-waste.

In a 2013 study conducted by the Ateneo School of Government, it is estimated that by 2015, over 292,000 computer units will become obsolete, and another 426,000 in 2020, with 93,000 units being landfilled. Also, an estimated 1.5 million television sets will become obsolete by 2015.

Toxic elements from e-waste can leach to a great extent even with a short contact time, and has the ability to change the acidity, conductance, and hardness levels in water6.

Toxic metals, such as mercury, bio-accumulates in living organisms and can cause neurological and respiratory problems.

There are ways, however, to limit our society’s exposure to the toxic metals from e-waste materials.

Here are five tips to keep e-waste at bay:

Be smart and look for greener electronics. Organisations like Greenpeace have compiled a list evaluating electronic companies’ commitment and progress on reducing their environmental footprint.

You can actually buy electronic goodies with very little toxins in them. Be mindful of your purchases and look for electronics with the RoHS logo (European Union’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances, which requires electronics manufacturers to eliminate toxins in the products they sell such as lead and cadmium). Aside from the RoHS logo, look for products with the Energy Star label, J-Moss (Japan Ministerial Ordinances), and WEEE compliant logos.

Think twice before you throw your gadget in the bin. Properly dispose your items through DENR-registered disposal hazardous waste facilities.

Globe Telecom acknowledges the importance of proper e-waste disposal and conducts a mobile recycling programme. They accept old phones in many of their participating stores. Alternatively, ask your electronics manufacturers if they have a take-back policy or trade-in programmes.

Groups such as the Basel Action Network have established the e-Stewards Initiative an electronics waste recycling standard that hold electronics recyclers in North America to recycle locally and not export their toxic e-waste to developing countries such as the Philippines. Recycling initiatives such as these are gaining momentum. Check around your city if you have reputable recyclers that have passed similar certifications.

Bring life to the old by taking your faulty electronics to your local accredited electrician or service centers. The cost of getting them fixed can outweigh the cost of getting a new one. If they’re not faulty, you can still give them a new lease of life by selling them online through sites, such as olx.ph and ayosdito.ph.

Re-consider whether you need new gadgets. If your electronics is still within its functional capacity, the latest update might not be worth the added social and environmental cost.

Take a break from technology. Give your loved ones something different this season by going on nature hikes or these local artisanal gifts; eco-friendly gift guide.

While it is always nice to buy something new or to give and receive the latest and coolest gadgets in the market this Christmas season, we must also bear in mind that it also has the potential to do harm, if e-wastes are improperly managed.

As updated as we are with the latest trends in technology, we must also be responsible for the fallen gadgets that served us through its useful life. Remember the best way to avoid e-waste is not to generate it in the first place. (PIA-NCR)