Are Cell Phones E-Waste?

Almost everyone has a cell phone these days and loves to upgrade them regularly but what happens to the old phones and how do we dispose of them properly?

When we think about our ecological footprint, and desire to become more eco-conscious individuals, we typically contemplate making changes to our cleaning products, beauty routines, and diet. What we often neglect to consider is the astounding impact our electronic waste has on the environment. 

Our consumption of electronics is excessive - just think about the many iterations of cell phones we have purchased in order to stay up to date with the latest trends. Electronic waste is now the fastest growing waste stream globally. Cell phones in particular are an area of concern for e-waste due to their short lifespan and planned obsolescence. 

If not disposed of properly, our phones will end up in landfills. E-waste can make its way to developing nations as well. Canada must now follow Basel Convention guidelines and no longer export this electronic waste. However, other countries still engage in this hazardous export. 

The volume of e-waste produced globally is rapidly growing. According to the Global E-waste Statistics Partnership, the amount of waste grew by 21% in the five years leading up to 2019, and in that same year 53.6 million metric tonnes of e-waste were created. 

How Cell Phones Have an Impact on Our Planet

E-waste has some serious environmental ramifications. Air can be polluted when scavengers burn electronic waste to obtain copper. 

Additionally, if these electronics are not disposed of properly, toxic elements like mercury and lead can enter the soil and water supply. The ever increasing need to mine materials such as gold, copper, titanium, platinum and lithium puts strain on our finite natural resources. 

Unregulated e-waste processing in developing nations can be a hazardous line of work, as the individuals engaged in such work are exposed to toxic residue. Workers in the informal waste sector can be exposed to over 1,000 harmful substances, including lead, mercury, nickel, flame retardants and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). 

What Can We Do?

Technology is an integral part of our daily lives, so how can we deal with the waste of our cell phones? Here are a few ways we can begin to address the issue:

• Do not throw your phone in the trash or recycling. 

• Locate a municipal recycling depot that accepts e-waste.

• Find electronics retailers that recycle e-waste; some examples include Staples and Best Buy. 

• Return your device to your phone provider. 

• Sell your old phone online.

• Keep your phone for as long as possible-if your device is still functional, continue using it. 

For more information on e-waste, check out our Action Guide, join us at one of our litter cleanups as a volunteer or support our efforts by becoming a monthly donor!