1.Check Product Lifespan. Do some research when you’re ready to buy a new product. Make sure it’s one that won’t break easily or become damaged shortly after you purchase it. In other words, look for products likely to have a much longer lifespan so you won’t need to replace it within a few years, or even months. It’s known that this is a common practice in the electronics industry; to make products with shorter life spans so more money can be earned in the long run when they break or malfunction.
2.Educate yourself on what gets put into your electronics. Knowledge is power. Doing some research about the raw materials being used to manufacture your mobile phone or laptop helps you understand how harmful those materials and toxins can be if they’re tossed into a landfill. The more you educate yourself the more you can purchase items that won’t be harmful to the environment.
3.Look for an environmentally friendly label. For example, see if the products you buy are labeled Energy Star, or have been certified by the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool.
4.Consider limiting the number of electronics you own. If you don’t really need an extra gadget, look for devices that have multiple functions
5.Teach kids about e-waste. Children are our future, and it helps if we can instill within them at a young age a commitment to e-waste recycling.
6.Recycle, recycle, recycle. No matter what you have, it’s important to always dispose of your e-waste properly. That means recycling all of your used electronics, with the understanding that improperly disposing of e-waste is becoming more and more hazardous, particularly since the volume of e-waste has skyrocketed.
7.Understand security issues. All of your personal information remains stored on your electronic devices even if you delete it, so that’s another reason not to throw it away. A recycling firm like Great Lakes Electronics Corporation can scrub your device clean before it gets recycled, so there is no opportunity for cyber thieves to get that information.
8.Maintain what you have. Small moves help keep what you have working longer. Clean your computer often and don’t overcharge your battery so you can improve your battery’s overall lifespan.
