There have been researches that are creating awareness regarding electronic waste that is increasing day by day which suggest that electronic waste or e-waste can be considered as the fastest-growing stream of hazardous waste in the world. There have been organisations around the world that are taking multiple steps regarding creating awareness concerning this topic and also reducing its generation around the world. In this blog, e-waste recycle Singapore we are going to answer the frequently asked questions regarding electronic waste and its generation that the queries of our readers will be solved.
What is Electronic Waste?
E-waste includes a variety of inputs which may include hazardous materials to potentially valuable and recyclable materials as well. To dispose of electronic waste responsibly as an individual, you can follow a range of pathways which may include formal and informal recycling, storage and dumping which is possible in both developed as well as less developed countries. In the past decade, the amount of electronic waste generation has seen a huge increase, therefore, a significant change has also been noticed in the way electronic waste is handled and regulated by government bodies around the world. A lot of countries have adopted extended producer responsibility laws, which makes it compulsory for electronic manufacturers to pay for proper recycling and disposal of their electronics. There is no doubt that with the changing time and awareness of the electronic waste recycling industry it is becoming more and more formalized and it now has the potential to recover valuable materials from these electronic devices.
Are all types of electronic waste recyclable?
As we talked about electronic waste recycling we must understand that all types of e-waste cannot be recycled and there is a particular variety that can undergo the recycling process which includes, televisions, computers, home and office types of equipment, computer peripherals, electronic components, mobiles and landlines and other household appliances that we use in our daily life. The power tools that we use can also be recycled but some types of hazardous waste like chemicals, paints and pesticides along with smoke alarms and fire extinguishers cannot be recycled.
Why is electronic waste recycling considered so important?
There has been a huge increase that has been encountered in the use of electronics around the world which is why there has also been an increase in the generation of electronic waste that is getting disposed of by the people. An improper method of disposing of electronic waste can cause a lot of harm to the surrounding area in which it has been disposed of along with also causing greater damage to the environment as well. The electronic waste that we dispose of is a huge waste of precious resources and is also a potential danger because they contain toxic metal elements found in the electronic waste that can cause a lot of damage to the environment and our health as well. Considering the risk it poses to our day to day life, recycling is one method that can minimise the risk that it causes, as it can help you manage unwanted electronics and it also helps in reducing the need to mine raw materials for the new technologies. The E-waste that gets collected is diverted from the landfills and around 95% of the raw material gets recovered and is recycled or reused which is an excellent method to minimise the risk it poses.
Where to dispose of the electronics?
To dispose of electronics responsibly you need to be aware of the recycling organisations that serve to recycle the electronic waste. These recycling centres accept most electronics that can be plugged into an outlet or run on a battery. Hence you must be aware of what kind of electronics you are going to get recycled by them. Some websites have a drive-through service that makes a drop of e-waste very conveniently for residents. Any electronics that you use at home like television, computer cell phones, gaming consoles, microwave, dishwashers or any wired kind of electronics can be recycled easily by these organisations.
What are the main benefits of disposing of electronic waste?
In this blog on e-waste disposal Singapore we would like to discuss many benefits, if we prefer to recycle electronic waste and responsibly dispose of them rather than straight away throwing them into the landfills but one main benefit is that it saves energy. The reason why we say that is because It helps us in reusing older materials in making the new ones which minimise energy consumption. An estimate of 530 pounds of fossil fuel, 48 pounds of chemicals and 1.5 ton of water is used to manufacture a single computer monitor. But if we prefer on reusing materials from old electronics then this energy consumption can be minimised which will help the environment as well.
