If your keyboard, smartphone or TV breaks, you often unceremoniously replace it with a new one. Easy, but not exactly sustainable. Why do we actually do that? And how do you change that behaviour?
More than 50 million tons of electronic devices were thrown away worldwide in 2019, according to the Global E-waste Monitor 2020 of the United Nations. That equates to about 7 kilos of electronic waste or e-waste per person. Scientists who prepared the report expect this amount to rise to about 74 tons by 2030.
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How much e-waste do we produce per year?
Most e-waste is generated in Asia: 25 million tons. That is as much as the waste in Europe and America combined. Nevertheless, Europe leads the list when it comes to the number of kilograms of devices thrown away per person, namely: 16.2 kilograms. At 21.6 kilos, the Netherlands is far above the European average.
Most of that huge amount is landfilled, incinerated or illegally dumped. Only one sixth of all discarded electronic devices is recycled. While there are many places where you can hand them in. Or, even more durable, where you can get them repaired. Why do we find it so difficult to hand in electronics? Milieu Centraal has had independent research done on this for years. Expert Mariska Joustra explains the main reasons.
Why do we produce so much electronic waste?
- We are surrounded by buying incentives
“Wherever you go, we are surrounded by buying incentives. In addition, many people like to buy something new.” - Buying something new is easier
“For a repair you have to make an effort: find out which part is broken, order it and then figure out how to install it. If you can’t do it yourself, you have to find someone who can. In the meantime you can’t use the device A new purchase takes less time and you can often have it delivered to your home too.” - We have forgotten how to fix
“We lack the knowledge to carry out repairs ourselves. And because we can buy a new appliance in no time, we no longer delve into it. That is a shame, because many ‘broken’ appliances are not broken at all. Coffee makers, for example often do it again after they have been descaled.” - We don’t know where to go
“There are many repair cafés where you can go with a device that refuses to serve. Although the number of visitors is increasing, not everyone knows where to find them. The same applies to return points for broken electronics.” - We find repairing scary
“People often find a repair scary. Imagine that the product breaks again shortly after the repair? And what about the warranty after such a repair?” - Repairing is (often) expensive
“VAT on labor is high. That is why the repair of a vacuum cleaner or washing machine often costs a lot of money. If the purchase of a new product is only slightly more expensive, people often refrain from repairing it.”
This is how you reduce your e-waste
It is striking that recent research by Motivaction shows that we do want to do better: four out of five people consider maintenance and economical use of things important. How do we change our mindset, and do we actually act on it?
- Take good care of your electronic devices. As a result, they last much longer.
- Don’t throw away a broken device, but take it to a repair café in your area. Or search online for videos on how to fix it yourself. This is possible with Jafix or iFixit, for example. Or call a mechanic.
- Bring devices that you no longer use to the thrift store or sell them online via, for example, Marktplaats. Exception: old refrigerators, freezers and dryers often consume so much electricity that it is better to hand them in for recycling.
- Also hand in broken devices for recycling. That is almost always possible at the place where they sell similar items. This also applies to old washing machines and dishwashers, which the supplier of the new product will dispose of for you.
- Take large appliances that are not replaced to the recycling center. An overview of return points can be found on Wecycle.
- If you need a new electronic device, take a look at a used or refurbished one.
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