Everyone is surrounded by technology and electronic devices all day long. These devices help simplify our lives tremendously, however, a lot of these devices are built and manufactured using rare materials, which means they are a huge source of embodied energy. Because of this, making sure that we minimize the amount of electronic waste is a great way for us to make sure we are conserving our resources, as well as minimizing the amount of energy that we take away from the Earth in order to serve our technological needs.
Making sure that we reuse the precious metals and the plastic that goes into making items such as cell phones can help us reduce our need to mine for more, and can result in the United States alone saving as much energy as we would if we turned off the power to at least 24,000 homes for an entire calendar year. Because recycling these devices is so important, we have put together a helpful list of ways in which you can help by limiting the amount of your e waste.
Re Evaluate
Before you buy a new device, or go for an upgrade, take a moment to really evaluate the situation and think if you truly need this, and if you do, can you find a device that can be used for multiple functions?
Extended Life
Do your best to get the most out of your devices. This can include buying a quality case for your phone, cleaning your devices, and avoiding overcharging.
Buy Environmentally-Friendly Devices
When you are buying a new piece of technology, make sure you are looking for the Energy Star label or EPEAT certification stamp.
Donate
When the time comes to get a new device, you can donate your old ones to social programs. There are plenty of programs available all over the U.S. that support many different causes.
Reuse
There are a lot of larger electronics that can be reused. Just like you can donate your old devices, you should search for used items when the time comes to replace what you have.
E-cycle
Old electronics, batteries and more can be recycled at the proper locations. Just make sure you are looking for e waste recycling centers near you.
This post was written by Steven Elia Co-Founder and Recycling Director at eCycle Florida. eCycle Florida is a R2 Certified electronics recycling company in the state of Florida. Our processes and procedures are dedicated to the proper destruction and recycling of your electronics. eCycle Florida is your go-to for electronic recycling in Tampa.
