Published on March 28th, 2019 | by Bibhuranjan

Tips for managing e-waste

Waste management is a fairly familiar term for the majority of the world’s population. However, it is normally used with regard to general waste. This explains why some people who own electronics still do not know how to manage their e-waste. If someone told you to sell your drone you would probably not understand why. However, selling off some of your electronics would be a good way of managing e-waste. Disposing of old electronics in the same way you would do with other items is probably not the best idea. Also, most electronics are quite costly so their mode of disposal should make a financial return however small. If e-waste is managed properly, it saves money and conserves the environment as well. The following are tips on how to manage e-waste:

Send them to the Recycler

Once you have used your electronic device to the satisfaction or for one reason or another you do not need it anymore, you can have it recycled. Most people have no idea what electronic recycling entails so they opt to get help from retailers. The process of making something new from the old one will take a while and there are other resources required. Visit a retailer who is connected to recycling companies and sell the old item to them. Some recycling companies are not authorized and others do not even pay attention to the number of toxins released during the process.

Upgrade and Repair

Electronics can get really old but it is hard to get one that is rendered completely useless. There are benefits of repairing and upgrading your old device. Apart from the obvious one of cutting cost, you can also come up with a device better than the original. There are some devices that only need additional memory and a new software version and they will be as good as new. This kind of management will help you to avoid spending more on electronics. There will also be less or no clutter in your office or house since you are not piling up old devices and new ones. However, for you to get a more effective repair or upgrade, you may need to visit an expert. While some people buy new parts and programs to repair their old devices, sometimes it is not the best thing to do. Seeking professional help will give your machine a better chance.

Give Away

In managing e-waste, some people explore the option of donating the electronics they do not need. This will not bring any cash flows but it will help you to declutter. Also, there are organizations who will receive old electronics and make good use of them. This means both you and the recipient organization will benefit in some way. There are times that a device cannot give you the services you need any longer and you have an inevitable need to get another one. In such cases, giving out the item will be a better option than just dumping it at the dumpsite. If there is anything you need from the device, you can remove it before you give away.

Make a Sale

Selling your old electronics could mean either taking them back to where you bought them or selling to a completely different person. There are electronic dealers who accept to buy back the devices they sold to you when you no longer need them. Alternatively, you can visit any retailer’s shop that deals with old electronics. Most of them buy the devices and repair them for resale. They also check for the salvage value of the device and give an equivalent compensation. Even when a device looks so bad, they always find a part of it that can still be useful. For instance, some retailers buy old phones just to remove the motherboard and use it elsewhere. Even though to you the phone may seem useless, the buyers can get something out of it.

Most electronics are made from very valuable materials hence the need for more decent management of e-waste. Since there are many ways of managing e-waste, you can go for the one that suits you best. The ones discussed here are just but a few to give you an idea of what you can do.

Tags: e-waste, electronic waste, waste management

About the Author

Bibhuranjan Editorial Officer, technofaq.org I'm an avid tech enthusiast at heart. I like to mug up on new and exciting developments on science and tech and have a deep love for PC gaming. Other hobbies include writing blog posts, music and DIY projects.