Yes, even in the technological world, recycling is the right thing to do. You may be surprised that even your gadgets like smartphones, laptops, desktops and tabs can be recycled completely. You are not only getting rid of a device you don’t need anymore but also not harming the environment!
On average, a mobile phone takes only 2-3 years to become obsolete and outdated and hence comes a need to change it every 2 years. Can you imagine what happens to obsolete mobile phones? Yes, you can recycle them!
Let’s dive further into this concept of technological recycling and how you must go about it.
Technological Advancements: Recycling of Electronic Gadgets
Recycling is something you are not new to but yes It has been happening even in the technological world and should continue so for the sake of our environment. Recycling technological devices simply involves re-using your devices’ materials and using them somewhere else. Just the way you recycle other home products, your mobile phones are also recycled.
For an e.g., your mobile phone is made up of various parts and materials like plastic, metal, lead and even Aluminium.
You are aware that each of these materials is very much recyclable and reusable somewhere else. This does not mean that an electronic device that is recycled is used to convert into a new electronic device. The materials from your device are simply extracted and used those materials for altogether another product.
How does one Recycle your Electronic Gadgets?
There is nothing to fret about as the process and procedure are very simple to follow but are necessary to safeguard your private data and information that is in your electronic gadgets.
There are a few things you must do first.
1. Log out everything:
Most mobile users use their devices for banking, accounting etc. and the first thing you must do is remove all your PIN codes and passwords from your device. Log out from all your accounts. You also need to simultaneously delete all information that is highly confidential in nature.
2. Remove SD/SIM Cards:
Your SIM card carries all your personal information and confidential data. You don’t want it going into the wrong hands when you hand over your device to another company. Make sure you have removed all the SIM inserted into your phone/electronic device including SD memory cards that you might have added to your gadget.
Let’s briefly go through what happens to your device once you have given it for recycling.
The 1st step involves recyclers sorting the ones that can be still used as a device and the ones where the parts or materials can be used. The ones that can be used as a device by themselves are sent out to some other nation and the remaining ones start the process of recycling themselves.
The 2nd step involves detaching the batteries and giving them away. The batteries are often sent to the concerned department and the remaining phone is shredded under a very high temperature reducing the device to mere dust.
The 3rd step involves taking the dust to a smelter and important metal products are extracted. The extracted metals are then used to make other things. The plastic used in the device is granulated to form another material to be used in different products
The final stage involves the transportation of all extracted materials to manufacturers for their use. If any material is used for making edible products, they are first detoxified to remove any harmful substance in it.
And you ask why is it so important?
1. Save our Depleting Resources
The importance of recycling gadgets is no different from recycling other products we use in our day-to-day lives. Let’s be honest, it really saves our earth’s natural resources! Did you know to make a single mobile phone, a lot of resources are required but obviously in the process of getting these resources, we do damage our environment.
It is important to recycle the materials to save resources as well. Mining processes are involved to obtain some materials required to make a mobile phone and without any second thought, mining does have a significant and long-term impact on Mother Earth!
2. Energy Saving
Millions of phones are being produced yearly and now imagine the amount of energy being used in the process. Recycling is the best way to give back to the environment what was used from it.
3. Reducing Pressure on Landfills
Due to a lack of awareness, millions of mobile phones end up being thrown just like that and they find their way into the landfills. Recycling mobile phones in a proper way alone can reduce the pressure on these landfills. Recycling gadgets is as simple as it can get and must be followed to save our environment resources and energy!
Let’s see different ways of disposing of your technological devices:
Give them away: The best and easiest way of getting rid of a device that you don’t need any longer is to give it away to other people. It could be your child if he is grown up enough to have the device or give it away to a colleague or relative for a matter of fact. The choice is in your hands.
Charity: Charity does begin at home. But if your electronic gadget is not required by any family member then you might consider giving it away to charity. Some charity organizations exchange these devices with recycling companies for cash that helps them run their charitable organizations.
RECYCLE: If you have been reading the article from the beginning, then the best thing to do is Recycle them. It’s easy and simple. Just make sure you have deleted all your personal details on your gadget before disposing of it.
So, while technological devices are great to use, they do require them to be replaced as they cannot be used forever. While you do dispose of them, do it the right way so that our environmental concerns are also addressed!
XtraCover is here: Reuse. Extend. Save
XtraCover encourages the reuse of gadgets to ensure a greener future!
- Our mission includes bringing premium technological gadgets in reach of the masses by offering quality refurbished products and buybacks.
- Extending the lifespan of the gadgets by offering repair, and extended warranty support and thereby ensuring social dividend.
XtraCover offers SaaS Products, Warranty Services, the Sale of Refurbished Mobiles & Laptops, Repairs and other related value-added solutions for mobile phones, laptops, tablets and other electronic appliances.
