Search results for "e-waste"

Today’s extensive consumption of electronics lead to alarming amounts of waste and the release of substances hazardous to human health and the environment. Finite natural resources are extracted from the ground at a fast rate and reserves are running low. By prolonging product life, individuals and organisations can contribute to a more sustainable future.

We are living in a very disposable age and there is no better illustration of this than the smartphone industry.When the humble mobile phone first started to become ubiquitous back in the late 1990s, it was unthinkable that it would be a device that we would simply toss away after 12 to 18 months. However, as the number of devices has increased, they have become a far more disposable commodity.

Electronic waste - or ‘e-waste’ - refers to all items of electrical and electronic equipment and its parts that have been discarded by its owner as waste without the intent of reuse.Concerned that the amount of e-waste generated is expected to increase substantially over the next few decades,OnRecycle.co.ukdelved deeper into the issue.They analysed 2018 data released by Gov.uk, concerning Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment, whi...

Technology expert and environmentalist, Eric Lundgren, has disrupted the electric vehicle industry by travelling 748 miles on a single charge in an electric car he built himself out of recycled materials, setting a new world record.Dubbed ‘The Phoenix’, this car cost less than $14,000 (£10,593) to build and beat the Tesla P100Dm, Nissan Leaf, Chevy Bold and Fiat 500e cars combined mileage. It breaks the world record as the car w...

Researchers at Rice University and the Indian Institute of Science have an idea to simplify electronic waste recycling: crush it into nanodust.Specifically, they want to make the particles so small that separating different components is relatively simple compared with processes used to recycle electronic junk now.

Yesterday, Samsung officially published its plan to deal with the 4.3 million Galaxy Note 7 devices produced and recalled worldwide following battery faults. This major win comes after nearly five months of campaigning and global protests addressing the environmental impact of the recall.

A recent survey conducted of adult consumers in Britain, Germany and the US showed that there was a lack of awareness of cadmium, a highly toxic heavy metal used in some home electronics including televisions and computer monitors.Consumers surveyed seem to be unaware that governments are sanctioning the use of cadmium when suitable alternatives already exist and dominate the television and monitor market.

Despite their hefty price tag, smartphones have an average consumer lifetime of about three years. The lithium ion batteries that power them, however, can last for about five years. To cut down on the environmental waste and provide storage for rural communities, researchers at Kyung Hee University in Seoul have proposed a model for recycling unspent lithium ion batteries into energy storage units for solar-powered LED lamps.

The Silicon Valley innovation miracle that has ushered in dizzying new ways for people to live, work and play also has intensified the pressure to find environmentally responsible ways to dispose of gadgets rendered obsolete. "This is more complex than cans and bottles," said Jeff Hunts, manager of the CalRecycle electronic waste recycling program. "The bottle or can you drank from will soon become another bottle or can. E-waste is much more comp...

From the average mobile phone or tablet to the latest ‘smart’ kitchen appliance, our appetite for the latest gadgets knows no bounds. However, the rate at which we are consuming and disposing of these devices means that modern society is presiding over an empire of electronic waste.