E-waste - what it is and what to do with it

Electronic waste, or e-waste, includes any electrical or electronic items that are no longer needed or not in working condition.  Naturally, this includes computers, mobile phones and other electronic equipment as you’d expect - plus cables, chargers, remote controls, and of course batteries.

But did you know that CD’s and other discs that can be recycled too? Great news, because seriously it’s time to let go of those CD’s and DVD’s you are saving for a rainy day! Thank goodness for Spotify, Netflix and Youtube.

An incredible stat - Singapore generates about 60,000 tonnes of e-waste a year. That’s equivalent to discarding about 70 mobile phones per person in Singapore! (1) I was totally shocked.

Waste not, want not

This tells me that it’s high time we reconsidered how we purchase. The mentality of continually upgrading to the newest phone model is one I struggle with. I get that they are built to last a few years, and we all want the best new camera (or any new/additional feature!) but the one you have is still workable, maybe upgrading every 2nd or 3rd model would be enough?

And wouldn’t this make a huge difference to the amount of e-waste we produce?

How to dispose of your e-waste

As a first step, we can certainly recycle the items that are no longer useful. Let’s approach this sustainably and really consider the impact this has on the planet.

Check out this list of e-waste collection centres across Singapore.

What’s the best tip you’ve found on recycling your e-waste? Share it in the comments below!

Wondering what to do with your e-waste in Singapore? Here’s a rundown of how to dispose of it properly.