Did you know that Singapore generates about 60,000 tonnes of e-waste a year?
That’s equivalent to discarding about 70 mobile phones per person in Singapore! And the scary thing is that this number is expected to increase with greater spending power and new technologies constantly replacing old ones.
Why is this a problem?
E-waste refers to electrical and electronic waste, such as computers, laptops, mobile phones and TVs. While these items can often be refurbished, repaired or recycled, they are usually discarded instead. Not only does e-waste contain valuable and scarce materials such as silver and gold, there are also small amounts of harmful substances such as cadmium and lead that could potentially harm our environment and health if not handled properly.
When e-waste is disposed of and incinerated, it results in the loss of resources as well as carbon emissions that contribute to global warming and climate change. E-waste also contains small amounts of heavy metals that can be hazardous to the environment and health. Hence, recycling our e-waste reduces the amount of heavy metals in our incineration ash.
What can you do as a business?
Instead of purchasing entirely new devices or systems, start by replacing pieces of your equipment or update firmware and software as long as you can
When it’s time for a tech refresh, consider selling your IT equipment to companies that can refurbish or recycle them properly! Also, make sure to wipe out sensitive data before they get sold!
Consider purchasing equipment from companies who run end-of-life takeback schemes
Take part in e-waste recycling programmes for businesses, such as HP Planet Partners Programme and Toshiba-Metech Recycling Programme. As a business, you are encouraged to make use of the recycling programmes voluntarily offered by industry stakeholders. You are also encouraged to contact your equipment supplier or the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer)
This article is brought to you by eVantage Technology.
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