Mobile phones and personal devices such as laptops and tablet computers have changed the way we live. But the tech revolution has exacerbated an age-old problem: when we throw these devices out, we not only contribute to the growing mountain of waste, we introduce toxins into our environment. As The National reported yesterday, some components in our electronic devices pose a threat to the groundwater supply and can work their way into the food we eat. It's a worrying situation and one that must be addressed before we irrevocably pollute our ecosystem.
Many of us have several devices – an average of two smartphones per person, plus tablet, notebook and desktop computers, televisions and gaming units – and we change them as often as every 18 months. On top of this, we use dozens of disposable batteries each year. When we are finished with them, we often put them in with the household rubbish, after which they can go to a landfill. This, in turn, leads to the leakage of harmful chemicals including arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury. If these poisons work their way into the food chain, it puts the health of the entire community at risk.
It doesn’t have to be this way. We are often too quick to throw things out when we could reuse and recycle them. We can resist “built-in obsolescence” by eschewing sealed devices that can’t be opened to replace the batteries or upgrade other parts. We can encourage manufacturers and retailers to take responsibility for recycling their goods. And we can take advantage of services such as that provided by Enviroserve, a company that collects old devices and sends them to processors who recover the usable parts and responsibly dispose of the hazardous waste. Its plan to reintroduce phone recycling bins at smartphone outlets, as it did in Etisalat stores a few years ago, is an idea worth extending to all types of electronic devices and their retailers. Perhaps these shops could even offer discounts on new products to those of us who get rid of our deceptively dangerous devices in a responsible manner.
