DON'T THROW OUT YOUR OLD CELL PHONE!
If we are asked to list the causes of environmental damage, we usually think of the plastic in rivers and oceans, the polluting gases from cars and planes, and the destruction of forests. However, most of us are unaware of another serious cause of damage: electronic waste (or e-waste), which is made up primarily of the billions of cell phones and millions of computers that are no longer being used. Every year, a huge amount of e-waste ends up in garbage dumps, leaking dangerous substances into the ground and local water sources.(lines 1–6)
In recent years, there has been a global effort to educate the public about reducing e-waste. The effort has been led by the WEEE Forum, an international organization of over 100 companies engaged in e-waste recycling. Each year, the Forum produces educational materials on a range of subjects relating to e-waste. In 2024, for example, it highlighted the importance of recycling the old, unused electronic devices that lie forgotten in drawers or cupboards for months or even years.(lines 7–11)
There is good reason to recycle larger quantities of electronic devices. The billions of forgotten or discarded cell phones, for example, would provide a considerable amount of cobalt, a metal needed in batteries for electric cars. "There's a global shortage of cobalt, and recycling cell phones would provide the car industry with enough for millions of batteries," says science journalist Daniel Watson. "Furthermore, a lot less cobalt would need to be mined, which would be excellent since most mining is extremely damaging to the environment."(lines 12–17)
However, recycling is only a partial solution. According to Watson, it is also essential to reduce the number of electronic items being bought annually. "That is a huge challenge," he says. "Think, for example, of the new models of cell phones coming out every year or two. Many of us are tempted to buy one immediately, even when there's nothing wrong with the one we have. But ideally, phones should be replaced only every 4–5 years."(lines 18–22)
Of course, a product can last that long only if it can be repaired whenever it is broken or stops functioning well. However, repairing phones and other electronic items can be very expensive because of the high prices often charged by manufacturers for replacement parts. And cost is not the only problem. There are also manufacturers that require their products to be returned to them for repair. As a result, most customers decide it is not worth the expense or the effort. "If we want more people to repair rather than replace their devices, the repair option must be made more affordable and accessible," says Watson.(lines 23–29)
Governments have recently begun taking steps to achieve those goals. For example, a law introduced by most European countries requires manufacturers to charge reasonable prices for repairs. Environmental organizations are also pushing for new laws that would require manufacturers to redesign electronic devices and to provide instructions for repairing them. This would enable consumers to carry out their own repairs. "Such laws can ultimately lead to a significant reduction in e-waste," says Watson. "Hopefully, things will start changing soon. Our planet cannot wait."(lines 30–36)