Investigate the options and end fate of your household’s e-waste. Discuss where and how you will dispose of this waste and your future electronics purchase plans in relation to the waste they will one day become.
The electronics that are within my household which I will focus on are: computers, iPhones and TVs.
Computers:
Staples has started a computer recycling problem which provides free drop off locations. Keyboard keys, plastic and metal can be reused or later sold in large quantities. By doing this, it ensures that potentially toxic substances such as lead, cadmium and batteries[i] are kept out of landfills, while potentially find a new home! Staples along with Dell and a parts program called PowerOn, all accept old computers.
iPhones:
Apple has a recycling program where users can leave their old phones at the Apple store, free of charge. Here they will enter the ‘Apple Renew Program’ which the company will, ‘either refurbish the device for resale or recycle its materials to be reused.’[ii] This is great news, as they mention within their page, it helps protect the environment. This is done by reducing the amount of resources wasted which went into the phone's manufacturing. As apart of their mission statement, Apple hopes to end resources extraction by creating a closed-loop supply chain, which will completely be powered by recycled phones and materials.
Televisions:
It seems that there are less companies that will accept old TVs however, there are still some to be had. If it is still in working condition an option is to donate it or give it away. If not, then using the Manitoba ‘Recycle My Electronics’ website, I found out that Best Buy as well as most Staples will accept old televisions for recycling.
Finding out that there are places that will accept old, non-working electronics is semi reassuring. Knowing that resources are finite and materials within electronics can be toxic, a reliable and functioning recycling program for electronics in this day and age is very important. This information does not necessarily affect my future electronic purchase plans as if I need a new phone or computer, I will buy it. But this information is however very useful in the sense that one day when I do need to recycle my old items, I know where I can do so.
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