Whether you’ve received a gift that didn’t hit the mark, or you’re levelling up to the shiniest new tech – it is important to get rid of unwanted electricals responsibly. But, with 53.6 million tonnes of global e-waste produced per year, what are some ways you can make landfills less full? ¹
Experts at electronics retailer Ebuyer have revealed some thrifty tips on how to repurpose unwanted technology.
- Get donating
One man’s trash is another’s treasure and there are no better treasure troves than secondhand shops. Technology such as gaming consoles, tablets and phones can all be put to better use by those in need of them. From the British Heart Foundation to Oxfam there are many charities that accept donations of old tech.
What’s more, you can also donate old tech to local community groups and shelters. Not only will you be reducing CO2 emissions, but you will also be giving a chance for low-income households to access affordable goods.
- Side hustle and sell your tech
If you’re looking to make some extra cash, selling your old tech has never been simpler. All you need to do is upload your listing to social media sites like Facebook Marketplace or online selling portals such as eBay or Gumtree
Something to note – when selling your unwanted tech, it is always important to factor in costs such as postage, packing and selling fees, as well as how in-demand your item is.
It goes without saying that retro gaming has a big re-sale value from Nintendo 64 to Game Boy consoles. However, trend cycles also play a hand in tech value – you just need to look at the +1250% rise in Google searches for ‘wired headphone trend’, after wired headphones were spotted on celebrities such as Bella Hadid.²
- Tech loving care (TLC)
Maybe you aren’t a tech whizz yourself, but there are plenty of people that are. If the piece of technology has a small fault such as a glitchy screen or missing part – you can always get someone to repair it.
Always check the warranty on your tech purchase. Most retailers offer free repairs or replacement, providing you have selected an insurance package.
- Get thrifty and upcycle
Get thrifty and recycle your old tech into something new. Although YouTuber Logan Paul’s table made from Game Boy consoles may be slightly painful to see for gamers – there’s no denying that this is an inventive and environmentally friendly way to repurpose old tech!
For example, you could turn your old gaming console or computer into a planter or make a coaster out of an old floppy disk.
- Re-gift your unwanted tech
Perhaps you’ve been mistaken for an Xbox user when really, you’re tied down to PlayStation? That’s not to say someone else in your life won’t appreciate it – everyone has different preferences after all.
Re-gifting can then be a way of reducing landfills and instead, making someone’s heart full. To avoid awkwardness, just make sure not to re-gift your tech to the original gifter.
- If in doubt – recycle!
If your old tech is beyond repair or resale – recycling may be the best disposal method. Everything from cables, batteries and plugs can be recycled. However, considering that only 17.4% of e-waste is documented to be collected and properly recycled – the best way to recycle is to take to a technology recycling point. ³
However, you should never put your old technology in a regular recycling bin! Though much technology contains plastic, they often contain toxic metals which cannot be recycled through standard methods.
Commenting on the tips Andy Roberts, E-Commerce Director of Ebuyer said “Often when people upgrade to the latest technology models, they can leave their old tech either collecting dust in their drawer -or worse, left to rot in a landfill. So, with 53.6 million metric tonnes of e-waste generated per year, we wanted to encourage consumers to dispose of or repurpose their old tech in a more environmentally friendly way.
“We hope our tips will encourage people to find more responsible ways of getting rid of unwanted technology”
You can read more on Ebuyer’s corporate social responsibility statement here: https://www.ebuyer.com/CSR-weee