Recycle your electronics
Reducing the impact of plastic pollution includes ensuring that our longer-term purchases are disposed of correctly. Find out what to do with your used electronics once they are broken or depleted.
The world produces as much as 50 million tonnes of electronic and electrical waste (e-waste) a year.
SourceBenefits
- You are salvaging not just plastic, but also valuable mined minerals that would otherwise end up in landfill
- Some electronic items will be easily refurbished and used by someone else, reducing the number of brand new products required by the market
- Some companies will give you money back or credit off a new purchase if you do this
Challenges
- Sometimes the component parts are not valuable enough for reuse or recycling and still end up in landfill
- If items are not built to be taken apart, it can be different to refurbish, repair or recycle
Making a difference
In 2018, Apple says it refurbished more than 7.8 million devices, avoiding around 48,000 metric tons of electronic waste.