Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Recently, in my quest for a pair of functioning earphones, I stumbled upon my pile of no longer used electronics, resting amongst bundles of wires, plugs and pieces.
There was my first ‘smartphone’ – the one with Hello Kitty adorned all over it – and a flip phone a friend and I, much to our excitement, both shared. I hold on to them as they continue to retain sentimental value, but more so because I have no idea how to properly get rid of them.
I’ve always been somewhat particular about separating and recycling wastes as much as I can. As a school student I amassed crazy amounts of paper and plastic waste and a book on environmental conservation I read when I was younger left an impression that meant that I simply couldn’t do with just chucking them out.
Plastics, paper and glass are easily recyclable, and outlets for such exist in plenty, even here in Bahrain. But when it comes to old electronics, I’m stumped. Whether irreparable or no longer needed, do we just toss them into a bin?
Turns out, there are some things that we can do – places that take in your old phones and computers for recycling do exist here! Alternatively, you can donate – mobile phones that can still be charged especially can be repurposed as emergency telephones.
If all else fails, up-cycling is the way to go!
Transforming your old devices into creative works means that they don’t have to make their way into a landfill.
Vowing to continue using your current electronics indefinitely so as to avoid contributing to irresponsible waste disposal is sadly easier said than done; devices slow down, need change, software support ceases to exist and materialistic tendencies arise.
But, choosing to be more thoughtful about what we do with our digital companions after they reach the end of their life, whether imposed by us, or otherwise, is one way of becoming more mindful about what we consume and where our waste goes.
This is doubly important when it comes to electronic devices as chemicals leached out from them can prove toxic to the environment.
