The United States is a nation of consumers, and there are few things we enjoy more than our electronic gadgets. Unfortunately, for every new device 鈥� or upgrade 鈥� introduced to the market, there鈥檚 an older model that becomes obsolete.
The world produced 41.8 million metric tons of e-waste in 2014, according to a study published by the聽United Nations University. So how can we combat this growing problem?
The recycling option鈥� and sometimes law
Recycling products that we鈥檙e no longer using is always good practice. It can help protect the environment from hazards that are in our electronics and batteries. And many times, the device can be refurbished and donated to a person in need.
Sometimes just asking people to recycle isn鈥檛 enough, though. Some governments have made it illegal聽not聽to recycle. For example, the EU has gone so far as to institute the聽Battery Directive. Understanding that batteries commonly contain elements such as mercury, cadmium, and lead, the EU has set an objective of improving environmental performances of batteries, and setting a standard for their waste management as well.
In the United States, cities like New York City have made it聽illegal to simply throw out electronic devices. Instead, residents need to bring their devices to a recycling center, many of them conveniently located at other electronic retail outlets.
Incentives
If less hazardous waste in landfills, a cleaner environment, and compliance with laws and regulations aren鈥檛 enough, how about saving money as an incentive to recycle e-waste?
Many manufacturers and retailers offer discounts on purchases with the return of old devices. Best Buy, for example, has experimented with聽trade-in and recycling programs that offer gift cards or cash for customers who bring in old devices. As programs like this can leave the retailer聽struggling to break even, they often aren鈥檛 financially attractive enough to be the sole incentive drawing consumers to recycle e-waste.
But one incentive that is very effective is also, probably, the most obvious 鈥� convenience. One聽survey found that 43% of respondents would be more likely to recycle e-waste were cell phone and battery recycling part of curb-side pickup.
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