The issue of environmental protection is a matter of concern. Our natural habitat undergoes many aggressions that threaten the survival of the human species. In particular, the production and poor management of waste are the main causes.
Electronic waste requires special interest, as it exposes to great risks and promotes considerable losses. It is important to effectively manage this litter to reap real benefits. Here, find out why and how to reduce e-waste!
Electronic waste pollutes nature and people
A waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is a household or professional device that has become out of use and generally works with batteries, batteries or mains. The impact of this waste is visible on the environment and on people.
Environmental pollution
The volume of electronic waste is increasing. This is particularly encouraged by new lifestyles. This decade, the number of smartphones purchased has increased 12-fold. Also, each Canadian household has an average of 99 devices that can become electronic waste.
These figures are provided by the Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME). The upward trend in electronic waste is also explained by the fact that we are more focused on renewal than repair. You can adopt a computer recycling and electronic recycling structure to preserve the environment.
The amount of e-waste was estimated at 53.6 million tonnes in 2019 just. This corresponds to 7.3 kg of waste produced per person. The ecological impact of these figures is colossal.
The manufacture of electrical and electronic devices requires the use of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, precious metals, rare metals and other substances such as cobalt, carbon and lithium. The manufacture of this equipment alone generates an astronomical amount of greenhouse gases. These materials are usually heavy and persistent.
In figures, the manufacture and distribution of a 5″ smartphone and a laptop generate an emission of C0 2 of32.9 kg and 156 kg respectively. This waste takes a considerable amount of time to degrade. They have a significant impact on human health.
The impact of electronic waste on humans
Electronic waste affects health and is a slow poison for men. Heavy metals and toxic substances from this detritus pollute waterways and arable land. This leads to contamination of the entire food chain.
According to a WHO report, nearly 18 million children and adolescents work in the informal e-waste industry. Due to the fragility of these children’s bodies, they are more vulnerable to lead, mercury, nickel and other harmful substances in these wastes.
Avoiding e-waste: what every individual can do!
Because of the impact of e-waste, there is an urgent need for concrete action to reduce it. Recycling in particular offers good opportunities to take advantage of these elements. In this struggle, everyone has a leading role to play.
Avoid compulsive shopping
As a priority, fewer electronic devices must be used to reduce electronic waste. Compulsive shopping should be avoided. Before buying an electronic device, it is wise to ask yourself some questions. Do we really need this equipment? How often will it be used?
By sincerely answering these questions, you will know if your purchase is really useful. If the device proves necessary and you need to use it punctually, prefer the option of rental. This will contribute to the reduction of electronic waste. Also, multifunction devices are of great interest in this process to control electronic waste.
Maintenance of electronic devices
Poor maintenance of electronic devices promotes their rapid deterioration. This increases the amount of waste. It is the then important that everyone takes effective care of their devices. Dust and water are the main enemies of electronic equipment.
With a computer, for example, dust settles on the fan and heats up the machine more. At a good frequency, you have to disassemble your computer and clean it. In these realizations, seek the assistance of a professional to avoid damaging the device.
Dust on the TV is removed quite easily with a microfiber cloth. In addition, it is essential to prevent water from touching your electronic devices. With these provisions and many others, you extend the life of your devices. In turn, you reduce the amount of electronic waste.
Recycle or have repaired
Many people systematically opt for the purchase of a new device when an old one has a breakdown. This habit significantly increases the volume of electronic waste. Rather than making a new purchase, it makes sense to opt for repairing broken devices.
You can also consider reselling or giving away this property. Our recycling structure in Quebec makes it possible to separate from this electronic waste in the best conditions.
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