The Toxic Trash: Learn about all things E-waste

Is your first-ever computer still in use?

I guess, not.

Are you still using the phone you owned two years ago?

Obviously not! In the era, where mobile brands release a new phone every year, you probably don’t use a phone for more than a couple of years.

What happens to all those earphones you replace almost every year because you get bored with them?

We’re sure you have a drawer full of those earphones somewhere at home.

All of this becomes e-waste.

Remember the kabadiwalas (informal waste pickers) who’d come to pick waste from your house on Sundays? These kabadiwalas operate independently and often rely on rudimentary recycling techniques that release toxic pollutants into the air. Alarmingly, more than 95% of India’s e-waste is illegally recycled by these informal waste pickers. 

What if we told you that you might be inhaling chemicals generated from burning electrical wires. E-waste can also enter the water and food chain through the soil. So, in all probability, you might have just consumed toxic metals like lead, mercury, and lithium in your food.

Here, take another not-so-fun-fact

E-waste contributes massively towards global warming! According to a report, e-waste generation in India is estimated to increase by 500% by 2020. (Ouch, can you do the math yourself, please?). 

So, as consumers of electronic goods, it is our responsibility to know the impacts our purchases make and lessen any negative consequences through informed choices.

Want to be a Nature Warrior? Here’s how you can bring a change. 

•  Take good care of your gadgets so that they last long. Remember, old is gold?
•  DO NOT let kabadiwalas burn your precious gadgets in the blink of an eye. Instead, look for ways to dispose of them properly (Cue: Participate in BYJU’S E-waste Collection Drive from October 3 to October 11)
• Why throw electronic items when you can donate them??
• Always buy Energy Star certified electronics. (It helps you save up to 30 percent on your electricity bills, win-win for both, yeah?)
• How about renting electronic items instead of buying them? That way you get to use different gadgets without even paying a hefty amount.
• And, the least you could do is ‘Spread the Word’. (Show you care, do your share!)

So, give a hoot and don’t pollute!

 [custom_author=Harshita Dubey ]