Start Reduce E-Waste Today!

On 7th March will mark Clean Up Australia Day, an annual event that inspires and empowers communities to clean up, fix up and conserve our environment. We are supporting this cause in all King IT stores by urging people to reduce e-waste by reuse, repair and recycle your electronic gadgets including phones, tablets, laptops, TVs, printers etc and not allowing them to go to landfill. 

What is e-waste?

Electronic waste, which is commonly known as e-waste, is the scrap that is produced from discarded electronics devices. To be more specific, any electronic item that is no longer useful or is irreparably damaged, we can define as e-waste. They're categorised as below: 

• Consumer electronics;(Television, Mobile, DVD Players etc.) 
• Office electronics;(Laptop, Projector, Scanner, Printer, Copier etc.) 
• Lighting devices (Incandescent Lamp, Light Emitting Diode (LED) Lamp, Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL) Lamp etc.) 
• Power tools (Air compressor, Hammer Drill etc.)
• Home appliances (Air Conditioners, Refrigerator, Washing Machine etc.)
• Toys, leisure and sports equipment (Handheld Game Consoles, Electric Scooter, Electric guitar etc.)

Have you ever wondered how much e-waste we produce every year?

More than 50 million tones of electronic waste are produced around the globe, and this massive amount of e-waste is accountable for contaminating our environment. E-waste contains harmful materials (e.g. lead, chromium, cadmium, toxic fumes, etc.) which are detrimental to our environment; particularly when they are leaked into bodies of water, soil and air, affecting both plants and animals. Acquainting yourself with some proper practices can help us to manage e-waste efficiently. 

Here are some shocking facts:

• 88% of the 4 million computers and 3 million TV's purchased in Australia every year will end up in a landfill - this contributes to the 140,000+ tonnes of electronic waste generated by Australians every year.
• Fewer than 1% of TVs and around 10% of PCs and laptops are recycled Australia wide.
• E-waste is responsible for 70% of the toxic chemicals such as lead, cadmium and mercury found in landfill - and 23,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions would be saved if half of the televisions discarded annually were recycled.
• 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.
• 98% of the components in your computer or television can be fully recycled
• E-waste can cause serious environmental problems due to toxic chemicals such as lead, mercury and arsenic that pollute our soil and water and disrupt our ecosystems and our health.

Although up to 98% of the components in your computer can be fully recycled, electronic rubbish is growing at three times the rate of any other waste stream. Discarded devices are piling up around the world - 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 2020, fuelled by higher consumption rates, shorter lifecycles and limited repair options.

How we can help?

1. REPAIR:

If you have a laptop, phone, tablet or smartwatch that is broken, drop it into the store before you buy a new device. We will provide you with information on how your device can be repaired. We can’t promise miracles but we do have a great success rate, we just might be able to fix your device too.

2. REDUCE:

Rather than buy new, could you save money, reduce landfill and buy a refurbished phone or laptop instead? We offer quality refurbished products that have been inspected and tested by qualified suppliers, they work and look like new plus they are much more affordable. Whatever the brand or specifications you're chasing, we sure have something that suits your needs.

3. REUSE:

There's a better place for e-waste than your bin, we can help you to:

Trade: If you have an old phone that is still in working condition and it has a resale value, you can trade your old phone for cash in any King IT store. The impact on planet earth is minimised, and you get paid for doing something good!

Donate - If you have an old phone that is still in working condition, consider extending its life by passing it on to friends or family or you could donate to DV Safe Phone by dropping them off at your nearest King IT store. We will test your old phone and (assuming it passes all the tests), we will get it to a victim of domestic violence, through domestic violence or a law enforcement agency.

4. RECYCLE
If your device is no longer work then it's time to recycle it. If you have any phones, tablets or laptops that need recycling, feel free to drop them off at your nearest King IT store and we will recycle them for you. Recycling your unwanted electronics helps reduce the need to mine raw materials for new technology. The e-waste is diverted from landfill and around 95-98% of raw materials recovered are recycled. If you're unsure where to recycle your TVs, printers or any other electronics, check with your local council - they usually have a drop off centre.  #reuse #recycle #repair #reduce #ewaste 

Contact us today if you have any questions or drop into the store - we'd love to help.