Digital skills for adults - Course 1- English

E-waste is any electrical or electronic equipment that has been discarded. This includes working and broken items that are thrown in the garbage. Often, if the item goes unsold in the store, it will be thrown away. E-waste is particularly dangerous due to toxic chemicals that naturally leach from the metals inside when buried.

Eco-friendly waste disposal techniques that you can use to dispose of electronic waste locally:

1. Give Your Electronic Waste to a Certified E-Waste Recycler

The positive aspect of e-waste recycling is that you have quite a few recycling options.

You need to find an e-waste recycler who is officially certified by the Basel Action Network (BAN). BAN is a non-profit organization of recycling companies that are dedicated to recycling e-waste in a safe and responsible way. All members must make a pledge and display their Pledges of Responsible Recycling. So, working alongside a certified recycler means that you don’t have to worry about polluting another nation or risk losing your personal details to criminals.

2. Sell Off Your Outdated Technology

One man’s junk is another man’s treasure as the old saying goes. This can be applied to helping you get rid of your old devices.

3. Donating Your Outdated Technology

Old digital devices that you no longer need can be donated as they may be useful to others. Your old devices may be useful to either an NGO or students. You should ask yourself these 2 questions before disposing of your old electronics:

4.  Give Back to Your Electronic Companies and Drop Off Points

A lot of electronic companies tend to have an exchange policy whereby they take back your old device when you buy a later version, sometimes offering you a discount on your new purchase.

 5.  If a device is broken try to repair it before you consider buying a new one.

Batteries pollution

Some of the modern digital devices such as mobile phones, tablets, laptops use batteries. When depleted or faulty battery batteries are tossed into the trash, they end up in landfills where they decay and leak. As batteries corrode, their chemicals soak into the soil and contaminate groundwater and surface water. Our ecosystems, which contain thousands of aquatic plants and animals, are compromised when filled with battery chemicals.

Batteries must be recycled. There is no other environmentally friendly way to dispose of them.

Toner Cartridges recycling

As anyone who uses and replaces printer toner cartridges knows, it can be tempting to throw them away when they are empty. The thing is, toner cartridge recycling is a more responsible, sustainable way to deal with your empties, and it is easier to do than ever before.

You can recycle them by:

• Dropping them off at a retailer

• Sending them through the mail

• Working with a nonprofit that recycles for you

Why you should recycle

The idea of laser toner cartridge recycling sounds like it has benefits for our ecosystem, but what is the harm if you don’t participate? Well, throwing empty toner or ink cartridges into the trash means they go into the landfill, a practice that’s becoming a problem for our planet.