Any electronics item that is no longer used is called e-waste.

E-waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the world. Estimates have it that every year the world generates almost 50 million tonnes of e-waste every day. And it is not just about our big desktop machines. There are also piles of laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Hardly 12.5% of this waste is recycled.

85% of this waste is either burned or buried in the ground, which is terrible for our planet’s environment. Many dangerous metals are inside computers, laptops, and mobile phones. They release dangerous toxins if we burn them or put them in the landfill.

E-waste can contaminate the water sources of its area and jeopardise the health of humans and animals living nearby. Specifically, children and pregnant women living nearby are vulnerable.

So, it is imperative to raise awareness about e-waste recycling among people. Organisations, businesses, and governments should collaborate to raise awareness and educate people about how to recycle computers.

Challenge of mobile e-waste

According to statistics, mobile phones make up 10% of e-waste. There are almost 6.64 billion smartphone users in the world, and even if we recycle 20% of the phones, we can recover a lot of materials. Some of those materials may run out in the next century.

The mobile phone industry is so rapid that new models are released every few months. Users prefer to replace old models with the new ones even if old ones are still working fine. This is one of the challenges of the mobile recycling industry.

Unique challenges of mobile phones recycling

However, mobile recycling comes with unique challenges that desktop computer recycling does not have. There are metals and other usable parts inside a smartphone that we can use in manufacturing of new products. But is it easy to extract them from paper-thin devices?

The more compact and thinner the device, the more difficult and expensive it is to recycle it. Thinner mobiles are harder to disassemble, so the cost of recycling increases. You cannot automatically disassemble thin phones, so labour costs also increase.

Yes, design trends are also contributing to e-waste. Consumers want a phone that does not feel heavy to pick up, and producers want sales.

Moreover, even the recycling plants that use the highest standard procedures for recycling are hardly able to recover a fraction of the 20 materials that are present inside a phone. Smaller sizes and diverse components make mobile phone recycling a challenge.

How to prepare mobile phone for recycling?

You would naturally start looking for your local recycling centres once you have made up mind about recycling. If you are based in London, you will try to find IT Recycling London company.  Here is how you make sure your mobile phone is ready for recycling.

1. Is it in working condition?

First check if your mobile is still in working condition. Do not just throw it away because it is not working. Take some time to research about how you can give new life to your phone. The options for selling and donating are always there.

2. Maintain the components of the phone

Put the phone in a sealed container or an opaque bag. Keep any peripherals that may work on your new device. Let go of any items that are not needed.

3. Delete any existing data

Make sure you delete all your data before you recycle your phone. Delete all apps and data, and then factory reset the mobile.

4. Find how and where to recycle your computers?

Educate yourself about mobile phone recycling. Find a recycling centre in your area that is reliable and offers data destruction. Smartphones are recyclable. You may google about “recyclers near me” or “mobile phones recycling.”

Do tablets fall under the same category?

The answer is yes, speaking from a recycling perspective. Though they differ a lot in usage, mobiles and tables have the same key components. Both have CPU, GPU, RAM, storage, and operating system. Also, nearly the same raw materials are used in their production.

The size and components of a particular tablet could determine how easy it is to recycle. We do not, however, see any going thin competition in the tab industry. Since they are relatively less thin, they do not easily break during dismantling as mobiles do.

Plus, there are many ways you can use your old tablets. Reading apps do not always require the latest version, so you can make it your exclusive e-reader. You can use it to watch or even make it a permanent media player.

Challenges of laptop recycling

Recycling laptops also has its hurdles. Laptops are made up of several materials, and not all of them are easy to extract. Some rare-earth elements are time-consuming and energy-intensive to extract.

Because the required infrastructure is not available in every part of the world, they use improper methods. Even if you have an industry-standard recycling plant, you also need trained staff to handle it. Laptops contain toxic materials like lead, mercury, and flame retardants. Improper handling can expose workers and the environment to toxins. There must be strict safety protocols. Governments should work to invest in safe and proper recycling technologies.

Public awareness is also one of the challenges in recycling laptops, mobiles, and tablets. Even in developed countries, this problem exists.

Best laptop recycling practices

Laptop recycling is a complex task that you must perform considering your and your environment’s security. Here are three steps to take:

1. Backup your data

Your device can contain any sensitive or important information; you cannot risk losing it. You may have documents you made up with years of research or a lot of pictures with precious memories of friends and family. You may have sensitive information or confidential data of your customers like their credit card numbers, etc. Make sure you save all data somewhere else.

2. Wipe hard drive clean

You have now successfully saved your important information on any other device. It is time to wipe your laptop’s hard drive and make sure there is no data left. A simple deletion or format is not enough.

You can use any modern tool to overwrite the hard drive or hire any reputable company that offers data destruction service. These companies would properly erase your hard drives or break them into pieces with industrial equipment to make data recovery impossible.

If you are not sure whether your data will be permanently deleted, you can remove the hard drive before handing over the laptop to the recycling company.

3. Find recycling company

Now is the time to research your options. You can search online or ask your referrals about good recyclers. If you find a company that offers both laptop recycling and data destruction services, that’s great.

Take the time to research a company before hiring it so you can stay safe from scammers. Choose companies that are certified, comply with industry standards, and have a solid reputation. Also, your ideal recycling partner must offer secure logistics and pick-up services.

A good recycling company also helps you decide if your damaged laptop should be refurbished or recycled. They will thoroughly inspect the laptop from functionality, condition, and age perspectives and let you know if it can become useful again after refurbishment.

If your laptop is not broken but simply out of date, it is better to donate it than recycle it.

Responsible Disposal Options

What if you cannot find a good recycling program near you? Well, there are many other options as well. Other than recycling companies, you can avail of the following options for your e-waste:

Manufacturer take-back programs

Many manufacturers would happily receive their equipment from you if it has reached the end of its useful life. Some countries have implemented this ERP (Extended Producer Responsibility) policy. It makes the producer responsible for its product from day one to the recycling point. The producer cannot forget about the product after selling it. That also keeps production in control.

Donation/Refurbishment programs

If there is no recycling option, you can also find donation options. Rather than throwing outdated equipment in the landfill, donate it to underprivileged communities that cannot afford to buy new laptops and mobiles. A Google search could help you find programs for donation and refurbishment.

Looking ahead: Sustainable solutions

With every passing day, the world is starting to take sustainable products and recycling more seriously. Experts are also working to make e-waste recycling easier and faster. Advanced e-waste recycling procedures that use the latest technologies are a hot topic.

Artificial Intelligence can help sort equipment. Its algorithms can improve the accuracy of material identification and separation and make e-waste recycling less time-consuming. Some electronic producers are also adopting modular design, which makes repairing, upgrading, and recycling devices much easier.

Conclusion

We hope that the question of how to recycle computers, laptops, or mobiles is not difficult for you now. Yes, devices of different types pose different challenges but the basic way to prepare them for recycling is the same. Assess their condition to decide one of the options between donation, refurbishment, selling, or recycling, ensure to remove their data, and find a secure computer recycling company.

ComputerHuh Recycling is one of the best vendors when it comes to IT Asset Management, Computers and Laptops recycling, and data destruction. They work in partnership with the Environmental Agency and offer secure computer recycling services.