The importance of recycling old technology
By Dave Parrack
Recycling is one of the simplest ways in which to help the environment. Rather than clog up dumps and landfill sites, taking old, already used materials and recycling them is green and economical. However, while many of us already know this and do recycle household waste, consumer electronics and gadgets are often treated differently.
All of us are getting more and more reliant on technology and consequently acquiring more and more pieces of gadgetry. Unfortunately, many of us are irresponsible when these pieces of technology either break or outlive their usefulness. And the UK is worse than most.
According to BBC News, a new study conducted by the computer manufacturer Dell found that Britons are the worst in Europe when it comes to recycling electronic devices. This includes mobile phones, computers, games consoles, and television sets.
The study, which saw what 5,000 Europeans did with old hardware, found that less than half of all UK citizens regularly recycled old equipment. This compares badly with the whole of the rest of Europe, with Germans in particular doing well with over 80 percent of its residents recycling gadgets regularly.
This is despite European legislation known as the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive, or WEEE for short, being introduced in 2002 which was designed to “reduce the amount of electrical and electronic equipment being produced and to encourage everyone to reuse, recycle and recover it.” Ever punctual, the British government didn’t sign up to WEEE until 2007.
It seems that while we are all aware of the importance of recycling paper, glass, metal etc., many of us consider electronic equipment as something different. But it’s really not, and rather than just being chucked away there are many ways in which gadgets can be recycled or used by developing countries.
Remember, don’t bin it, even if it is no longer useful to you. There are always alternatives.
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