What is E-Waste? Is It Difficult to Reduce E-Waste?

Environmental and nature related problems are increasing day by day. If both the consumption habits of the people and the large industrial facilities spread all over the world do not act responsibly and do not comply with the rules, unfortunately, environmental pollution accelerates. Of course, parallel to this, different issues related to the environment come to the fore from time to time in the world. For example, waste is the most popular topic that has been spoken around the world in recent years and many projects have been developed.

Experts say that recycling is insufficient and that the main thing for the environment is to change consumption habits and remove as much waste as possible.

The mentioned wastes can be plastic, metal, glass, domestic or organic wastes, as well as e-waste, one of the biggest problems encountered today. So what is e-waste? Let's first answer this question and then look at what we can do about e-waste.

What is E-Waste (Electronic Waste)?

The number of technological devices we use is increasing day by day. At the same time, we change these devices, which make our lives easier and new models are constantly released, much faster than before. Consequently, many electronic devices accumulate in homes and workplaces.

Products such as telephones, computers, televisions and printers that are no longer used or functioning for any reason are also considered as "electronic waste". The alarmingly harmful nature of these wastes to the environment is that many of them contain PVC, brominated flame retardants, phosphorus, barium and harmful metals. In other words, e-wastes can pose a threat to the health of people and all living things if not taken under control.

So, what can we do to combat the e-waste problem? When we pay attention to what we do personally, do we do something beneficial for the environment? Now, let's start exploring all the details about e-waste reduction and e-waste recycling:

Is It Difficult to Reduce E-Waste?

When our technological devices become old or unusable, we prefer to keep them rather than dispose of them immediately. The technologies of these devices, which have been forgotten in drawers for a long time, are getting old defeated by rapid change. It is difficult for these aging products to be recycled or beneficial to humans.

According to the data of the E-Waste Recycling Support Association, an average of 6.5 kg e-waste is generated per person in our country annually. Moreover, this value is increasing rapidly every year. However, it is not difficult to prevent this. All we have to do is to pay special attention to the following issues in our daily life without wasting too much time. Here is what we can do about e-waste:

• Collect electronic waste separately from other waste.
• Drop these wastes to municipal waste collection centers or to transfer centers established by producers and licensed processing facilities.
• Try to make the electronic devices that are in use available for second-hand use without the technology getting old.
• These devices, which are used as actively as possible, are saved from becoming waste. In this way, you will contribute to the reduction of the amount of waste.
• Collect waste batteries in a separate place and take them to waste battery points. You can find out the closest waste battery collection point to you on ALO 181.
• In addition, correctly identify the products that may be e-waste. Everything from white goods to lighting products, from state-of-the-art devices to old-style technologies can be covered by e-waste.

If we determine the amount of e-waste in your home correctly and take action, you can make a great contribution to the environment. In fact, when you be more conscious not only about e-waste but also about all waste, you leave a more livable planet for many living things.