The global surge in electronic waste (E-waste) poses a critical environmental and health challenge. In fact, according to the UN’s recent Global E-Waste Monitor Report, “The world’s generation of electronic waste is rising five times faster than documented e-waste recycling.” Many of these devices could have been reused after repair and refurbishing. Device reuse will be an important factor in mitigating the hazardous effects of E-waste on the environment and human health. You can learn more about this story here:
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With the amount of e-waste doubling over the past 12 years, it’s clear we’re facing a massive environmental and health crisis.
One of the key issues is that only a small fraction (22.3%) of e-waste is currently recycled, meaning most of it ends up polluting our land, water, and air. The rapid pace of technological advancement, shorter device lifespans, and our growing appetite for new electronic devices are major contributors to this problem.
What’s particularly concerning is how businesses handle retired IT assets. Many still use methods like shredding, degaussing, or burning to protect data, which adds to the e-waste problem. Instead, there should be a stronger focus on repairing and refurbishing devices to extend their life and reduce waste. Embracing device reuse can be a crucial step in mitigating the hazardous effects of e-waste on both the environment and human health
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