Sustainable handling of electronic scrap

Sustainable handling of electronic scrap

This by today's electronic devices such as smartphones, laptops or game consoles are exchanged faster and faster in order to always be up to date with the latest art. But what happens to the old devices? In many cases, they end up in the trash and thus represent an enormous proportion of the world -produced electronics scrap. Sustainable handling of electronic scrap is therefore not only of an ecological, but also from a social and economic perspective.

What is electronic scrap and why is it a problem?

Electronic scrap, also called electric scrap or wee (Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment), includes all disused or defective electrical and electronic devices. In addition to household appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines, this also includes consumer electronics such as televisions, computers and smartphones.

The problem is not just the sheer amount of electronic scrap that arises every year. According to the Federal Statistical Office, around 838,000 tons of electrical and electronics equipment were collected in Germany alone in 2019. A not inconsiderable part of these devices does not get into regular disposal, but is illegally disposed of or exported.

electronic scrap contains a variety of dangerous fabrics. These include, for example, mercury in energy -saving lamps, lead and cadmium in computer monitors or flame retardant in plastic housings. These can get into the environment with improper disposal and damage both humans and nature.

Sustainable handling as a solution approach

Sustainable handling of electronic scrap can help alleviate these problems. The concept of sustainability includes the avoidance of waste from more efficient products and longer usage cycles as well as environmentally friendly disposal and utilization of old devices. In the following sections we want to take a closer look at what this can look like in practice.

prevention of electronic scrap

One of the most effective ways to reduce electronic scrap is prevention, i.e. avoiding waste. It starts with the production of the devices.

resource efficiency and durability

Manufacturers can make a contribution to avoiding scrap by paying attention to resource efficiency and durability of their products. This means that fewer and more environmentally friendly materials are used and the products are designed so that they break less quickly and are used for longer due to their quality or design.

Right to repair

Another important aspect is the right to repair. In the EU there are efforts to oblige manufacturers to provide spare parts and to design devices in such a way that they can be repaired by independent workshops or even the users themselves. As a result, many devices that are thrown away due to small defects could be repaired again and their useful life is extended.

further use and recycling of electronic scrap

Once a device has become too scrap, there are various ways to deal with it. The top goal should always be the further use.

second-hand market and refurbishing

Further use is often worthwhile for high -quality electronic devices. For example, a used smartphone that is no longer sufficient for the original owner can still be easily usable for someone else. Specialized companies offer so-called refurbished devices that have been prepared and checked and have a guarantee.

recycling and recycling

If further use is no longer possible, electronic scrap can be recycled. The devices are broken down and the valuable raw materials such as gold, silver or copper are recovered. This is not only good for the environment, but also economically sensible, since many of these resources are scarce and expensive.

conclusion and outlook

Sustainable handling of electronic scrap is a complex task that demands everyone involved: manufacturers, consumers, disposal companies and politics. There are encouraging approaches and developments. If it is possible to further strengthen and expand it, then electronics scrap can become less at a load and more a resource.

In particular, we as consumers also have a crucial role. We can make our contribution to a more sustainable electronics industry with conscious purchase decisions, repairing and further use of devices and the correct disposal of electronic scrap. And maybe we notice that it doesn't always have to be the latest device to stay up to date.

sources: Federal Statistical Office, European Commission, Federal Environmental Office for the Environment, Federal Environment Agency, Consumer Center, Stiftung Warentest