You’d be surprised by just how much damage our smartphones do to the environment. UNU Office of Communications states that the world now discards approximately 50 million tonnes of e-waste per year with an annual growth between 4% and 5%— an amount greater in weight than all of the commercial airliners ever made — of which only about 20% is formally recycled
The Global E-Waste Monitor 2020 reported that e-waste (discarded products with a battery or plug such as computers and mobile phones) increased by 21 per cent in the five years to 2019 and predicted that by 2030, it will be almost double the 2014 figure, fuelled by higher consumption rates, shorter lifecycles and limited repair options.
The harmful effects of e-waste on the environment
Millions of iPhones are sold year on year, with most people seemingly chasing that ‘new phone feeling.’ This creates an inconvenient problem, what do you do with your old phone? For most people, just tossing it in the waste bin seems simple enough but they don’t really think about where it goes after that and how much damage that can actually cause. Let me regurgitate some facts from Clean Up Australia:
- Electronic rubbish is growing at three times the rate of any other waste stream
- Discarded devices are piling up around the world at a rate of 40 million per year
- Approximately 98% of the components in your mobile phone or television can be fully recycled
E-Waste is a Global Issue
Developing countries receive a lot of the E-waste, where disposal methods are often very hazardous to human health. Disposal without fixing/recycling is also a missed opportunity to recover and reuse valuable resources. Each and every one of us can help stem the tide and slow all of this damage down by keeping our iPhones longer and having them repaired when they get damaged instead of throwing them away.
Prior to 2018, China was a willing recipient of 70% of the world’s e-waste. The city of Guiyu, China, was considered to be the world’s e-waste capital as it received 4,000 tonnes of electronic waste per hour. But when China’s National Sword policy was actioned in January, many countries were left without a market for electronic waste.
Fixing your existing iPhones will save you money
One of the most important things to remember when you buy an iPhone is that you don’t have to just throw it away every time it gets damaged. If you want to replace your phone and want to upgrade to the newest iPhone model, you still don’t have to throw your old phone away. You can sell it or recycle it, just about any other option is more environmentally responsible than simply throwing it away.
Now, what happens if your iPhone gets damaged? Anything can happen to an iPhone, you can drop it, slam it down on the table during an argument, or throw it at a wall…(don’t act like you’ve never thought about it.. No, just me?). Whatever happens to it, in most cases, you can have it repaired rather than just discarding it.
Whether you care about the environment or not isn’t important. If you care about your wallet, you should care about extending the life of your iPhone by having it repaired when it gets damaged instead of throwing it in the garbage. As you know, buying a brand new iPhone is insanely expensive. Why dole out all of that extra money when you can just fix it up and sell it or keep it as your newly repaired phone. One of the quickest, most convenient and affordable options out there is a DIY Repair Kit from TechXS. An amazing alternative to repair your screen or battery like new, arriving direct to your doorstep. No more unpredictable Apple queues have the peace of mind knowing you can have a simple option arrive direct to you, every time.
Next time you have a problem with your iPhone, do the environment and your bank account a favor by fixing or reusing what you already have! Not sure how? Go ahead and follow TechXS’ step by step Video or PDF guides here - https://techxs.com.au/pages/repair-guides
Have a problem with your iPhone, save money and the planet by getting in touch with the experts at TechXS!