There is so much technology available in the world today. In 2021, over 1510.3 million smartphones alone were produced globally.

We’re currently in 2022, and already leading smartphone developers like Samsung, Apple, Huawei, and Google have already revealed their latest smartphones. Even before the previous models are sold out completely, manufacturers are already producing newer models, and this goes for all electronics, whether we’re talking smartphones, computers, laptops, tablets, televisions, or anything remotely related to an electronic device.

The problem with this is that as consumers purchase newer electronics, they usually get rid of the old ones. Now in most cases, these older electronics are either sold off or passed down to someone else who may make good use of it.

But what happens when these electronics are no longer usable? Whether they are damaged beyond repair or they are simply too old and obsolete–They usually find themselves getting tossed out into the bin. Every single day, someone is throwing out an old electronic device, which contributes to the world’s E-waste issues.

Data released by the UN in 2019 indicates that 53.6 million metric tonnes of electronic waste were produced globally, and only a mere 17% of that figure ended up being recycled.

Why Is E-Waste A Problem?

There are probably some facts you haven’t heard about when it comes to e-waste:

• Global toxic waste is actually made up of 70% of e-waste
• About 80% of e-waste is shipped to Africa and Asia by the US and some other countries.
• E-waste contains a mixture of toxic substances such as lead, mercury, and chromium, among others.
• Some of the e-waste that is sent to landfills are burnt, which releases harmful toxins into the air.
• In developing countries, small children are actually being used to search through heaps of e-waste to find precious materials such as gold, silver, copper, and palladium, to mention but a few. These children are exposed to the harmful elements contained in e-waste that can result in serious health issues.

How To Handle E-Waste

 We’ve seen briefly how e-waste can be a big problem for us and the environment. Now let’s see what we can do to play our role in protecting the environment as well as ourselves and others.

Recycle

Yes, recycle! It’s not new, companies say it all the time, and we read it almost everywhere nowadays. Recycling can be a great first step to combating e-waste. Just because your old smartphone or PlayStation is dead, doesn’t mean it’s completely useless, they still have a lot of precious metals inside of them like gold, silver, or copper and these metals can be reused in the manufacturing of other products. Even the plastic bits can be repurposed. 

Donate

This one is in regard to electronic devices that still work, but you don’t need them anymore. If you have an old television set, or an old laptop, cell phone, fridge, or anything that still works but you just don’t want it anymore–Pass it on to someone who can make good use of it rather than just throwing it away.

Hand Over To A Certified E-Waste Disposal Company

Electronic waste recycling in Dubai is possible thanks to companies who care about the environment and the people who are affected by e-waste. Handing over your used electronic devices to e-waste recyclers is a very effective way to deal with old electronics. These companies handle all the nitty-gritty aspects of e-waste recycling and are making positive changes in the world. Recycling 1 million phones produces 75 pounds of gold, 35,000 pounds of copper, and 772 pounds of silver that can be reused to produce other smartphones and electronics, effectively reducing the need to mine for more of these materials from the earth.

In Conclusion:

E-waste is not something we should take, it can have some serious impact on the lives of people out there, mainly young children in developing countries in Asia and Africa. It is also an environmental hazard since it has toxins that can get into the ground when left in landfills, or into the air when burnt. To battle this issue, Enviroserve, an electronic waste recycling company in Dubai processes up to 40,000 tonnes of e-waste each year, helping the UAE reduce its carbon footprint. But even with recycling companies such as these, the first step to dealing with e-waste is with you.

Zero waste to landfill is a term used to describe a waste management hierarchy with the ultimate goal of sending zero waste to landfills.

Originating in the early 1990s and also coined as ‘Nil to Landfill’, the concept has been around for a while but has been gaining ground in recent times. 

In the wake of environmental changes, global warming and other consequences of discard waste in landfills, governments, and private organisations realised that it’s the need of the hour to come up with alternatives, hence giving rise to the concept of zero waste. Incorporating zero-waste principles has become a norm for all contemporary businesses and emerging entrepreneurs. 

However, adopting a zero-waste-to-landfill policy isn’t as easy as it seems. A lot goes into it starting from strategizing to execution. 

Waste audits are a good starting point. These audits provide you with a clear understanding of what your company discards, what is recycled, and what is diverted to other waste management programs.

A waste treatment team must be established to assist with the proper process, including waste separation, waste volume control, and treatment in accordance with waste standards. This will make it easier for your company to successfully adopt a zero-waste business model.

Businesses need to set short-term and long-term waste management and recycling goals along with time frames. It might also include using reusable or eco-friendly packaging for the products at an additional cost at first. Creating an elaborate plan, and listing down all the factors that contribute to it will ensure that a business is on track to achieve the set target pattern within the allotted time. 

Additionally, it’s critical for organizations to assist staff in developing the mindsets necessary for successfully putting ideas into practice and changing the culture of the workplace. Businesses must inform, interact with, and inspire staff to rethink the concept of waste.

Change takes time, and how it is implemented could be problematic. To break out of a rut and motivate greater waste reduction, reuse, and recycling tactics, try thinking in new, unconventional ways and expressing your thoughts. Just be certain that you’re consistently making timely, data-driven judgments that don’t conflate correlation with causation.

Explore processing technologies, such as recycling and extracting precious metals, waste-to-energy, and composting, either internally or with a partner company, if you have exhausted all possible reduction, reuse, and recycling options for rubbish. Even while these solutions have a small but noticeable influence on the environment, they are nevertheless highly advantageous compared to just disposing of your remaining waste in a landfill. 

You’ll want evidence of your success as you move closer to achieving your zero waste-to-landfill objectives. The best course of action at this point is to look for an external partner to verify the policies and standards of your company. Internally, it will assist in ensuring that you are making the best possible efforts and have not overlooked any prospects for development.

These initiatives will ultimately pay off, and not just for the environment but for your business as well. Businesses that adopted zero waste-to-landfill have received a return on their investment in terms of brand recognition and business expansion. Your business can do it.