Apple products have bizarre star-shaped screws, so you need to buy a special screwdriver to open many of their devices. Recently, Apple copped to putting a computer chip on new MacBooks which allows the company to lock down the device if it detects certain unauthorized repairs. More options for repair means lower cost and less waste.
There is a lot of money to make if you can dictate where the money must be spent. Consider household appliances. In recent testimony before a legislative study panel in Vermont, an appliance industry representative was asked why things are breaking sooner. The answer? The electronics, the circuitry. It starts with empowering people to fix their stuff — giving people the parts, tools and information they need to keep stuff working and off the scrap heap. Thus far, right to repair legislation has been introduced in 18 states.
As we head into , a number of states, including Massachusetts, are getting ready to reintroduce their bills, as debate continues in state houses across the country. Legislators frequently tell me they get a lot of constituent feedback on this issue. Phone parts that can be recycled include:. Prior to recycling your cell phone, you should make sure that your information on the device is backed up — most carriers will do this for you. You will also want to remove your SIM card in order to switch it over to your new device.
After you have backed up your phone, you will want to go into your settings to factory reset it and wipe any existing personal data. Cell phone recycling: how to do it and why it matters. The materials used to make cell phones generally consist of: Glass Various metals, including common alloys, as well as some precious metals like gold and platinum Plastic These components are largely recyclable, and rare earth metals can be valuable and scarce.
The same article presents more e-waste facts : Around , mobile phones are disposed of each day million per year ; There are 7. Popular Articles Quad what and octa who? A quick guide to processor lingo.
Android Lollipop: Our favorite features. Top 10 battery tips for your smartphone or tablet. Eco-Friendly Phones and Accessories Eco-friendly devices exist; they have ECO Specs and are created with packaging, production, phone efficiency, and materials in mind. Environmentally-Friendly Packaging Not all boxes that phones are packaged in were made in an environmentally-friendly manner. Eco-friendly packaging materials include: Recycled materials; Innovative materials such as bioplastics, plant-based packing peanuts, eco-friendly paper, etc.
How to Dispose of Old Cell Phones Recycling your phone instead of carelessly discarding it can make more of a difference than you realize. Recycling your device is a simple process that can contribute to the following: Environmental conservation: Cell phones contain materials like lead, mercury, arsenic, and other hazardous compounds that are toxic to the environment.
Take Advantage of Buy-Back Programs More often than not, cell phone carriers have buy-back or trade-in programs designed for repurposing or properly disposing of a phone. Use Recycling Kiosks Organizations such as coffee shops, local government offices, restaurants and a variety of other local businesses may offer public recycling kiosks. Support a Nonprofit e-Waste Recycling Company There are non-profit organizations that offer e-waste recycling free of charge.
The Recycling Process During the recycling process, any part of a mobile device that is usable is repurposed instead of being immediately thrown out. Keeping Your Information Secure Prior to recycling your cell phone, you should make sure that your information on the device is backed up — most carriers will do this for you. This content is provided for information purposes only. All information included herein is subject to change without notice.
Asia also recycles more of its e-waste, at The United States generated 6. The value of the raw materials contained in the e-waste produced in the U. We threw away billions of dollars worth of materials that could be used again. Recycling 1 million laptops saves the energy equivalent to the electricity used by 3, U. For every million cell phones that are recycled, 35, pounds of copper, pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold, and 33 pounds of palladium can be recovered, according to the EPA.
Recycling circuit boards can be more valuable than mining for ore! One ton of circuit boards is estimated to contain 40 to times more gold than one metric ton of ore. There is 30 to 40 times more copper in a ton of circuit boards that can be mined from one metric ton of ore. Old television sets, as well as CRT cathode ray tube monitors, contain approximately 4 to 8 pounds of lead, a neurotoxin.
Improper disposal means this toxic substance can leach into the ground. It takes pounds of fossil fuel, 50 pounds of chemicals, and 1. In , between 3. Not only did it create a dumping problem in those countries, but it also used resources to transport the waste to countries around the world. Guiyu, China, is a major dumping ground for e-waste from the U. After the e-waste is transported to China, the electronics are dumped in the town where they litter the streets and poison the residents.
Workers apply to the electronics to reveal the steel and copper they contain. High levels of lead have been reported among residents. Not all e-waste recyclers are the same.
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