Reduction
Recycling Programs
One of the best ways to reduce the impact of mobile E-Waste is to properly recycle your old handsets.
Unfortunately, old mobiles can’t just be placed into the normal recycling bin. They must be correctly disposed at certified recycling locations.
Thankfully, MobileMuster makes it easier than ever to find a nearby recycling location.
Below is a map that can help you find a recycling location near you!
Smarter Smartphones
In 2013, Dutch designer Dave Hakkens proposed Phonebloks, the idea of a modular smartphone – one where the user could easily replace damaged or out-of-date components for new ones, removing the need to replace the whole device and reducing E-Waste.
The idea showed a lot of promise and later that year Google and Motorola announced Project Ara, a prototype realisation of Dave’s open source concept. After showing a lot of promise, the project unfortunately was cancelled in late 2016 after Google found the project proved too ambitous and costly to make a reality.
Despite this, other companies, such as Fairphone have successfully brought the concept to market, selling 40,000 units (as of May 2016) however this is only currently available in Europe.
Companies Taking Responsibility
In 2016, Apple unveiled Liam, a line of robots that can disassemble iPhones from iPhone 6 onwards within 11 seconds with a 97% success rate!
With the help of Liam, Apple now also provides a recycling program for its products, as well as a trade-in scheme – which sees old Apple devices responsibility recycled/repurposed in exchange for Apple Store credit.
Apple has also vowed to make all of its products from recycled or renewable resources.