What to do with your unwanted mobile phones and computers
19 October 2007
Our lives are increasingly saturated with electrical appliances and the latest technological gizmos, offered to us in a huge array of varieties and models.
The freedom that technology has brought to most our lives is a fantastic development with endless possibilities in the future, however it is essential that we take a step back to think about how our growing appetite for electronics could be affecting our environment.
The accelerating rate at which domestic electronic technology is developed into new products, and the decreasing market prices of mass-produced electrical items is having a direct influence on the amount of waste produced throughout the world.
Electrical waste is far more damaging to the environment than conventional refuse and is notoriously difficult to recycle because of the variety of hazardous materials contained within it. As these products continue to fall in price on the High Street, this problem can only get worse.
Luckily the government has already recognised this issue, and earlier this year introduced the Waste Electronics and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) directive. You may not know it yet, but this piece of legislation will require producers and manufacturers to ensure that old electrical items are disposed of correctly in accordance with strict new guidelines. This will probably affect us as consumers, since manufacturers will have to cover the extra cost of the new disposal regime.
On the bright side, better facilities will be established so that we can separate all our electrical waste and take it to a designated drop off point in the local area. This is all well and good for items which no longer work, but to use the environmentalist mantra: reuse is better than recycling.
So if your old electronics still work, don't throw them away; bring them down to Action 21's Recycle Warehouse at Princes Drive in Leamington. The friendly staff will be happy to help if you need advice.
Mobile phones are also accepted in a new scheme set up with FoneAid, where people in developing countries can reuse redundant mobiles. Although computer hardware and white goods are not accepted at the Recycle Warehouse these items can be exchanged with other bargain hunters on the local communityfreebay.co.uk website. White goods are also recycled from the main tip site by the Warwickshire-based charity, Goods Again.
It doesn't get much better than that!
www.action21.co.uk
www.foneaid.org.uk
www.communityfreebay.co.uk
More information on WEE can be accessed from: www.warwickshire.gov.uk