A recent study by National Environment Agency (NEA) showed that annually 60,000 tons of e-waste is produced in Singapore. “That is like every person throwing away 73 mobiles every year,” said Dr. Khor, a Senior Minister of State, as quoted from Channel News Asia. It also states that only 6% of the population actually dispose e-waste in the designated bins. News agencies report that by 2021, the MEWR (Ministry of Environment and Water Resources) is going to establish and implement a mandatory e-waste system. But do we really need a rule to do the right thing? Living in a country like Singapore where we enjoy so many comforts through the use of advanced technology, it is time we all take more responsibility towards reducing and disposing e-waste.
What can we do? Firstly, we students can organize e-waste drives and collect all the unused mobile phones, laptops, electronics and batteries in our own homes and schools. Gradually, we can even do public drives and start collecting more of these old or unused items and give them to companies in Singapore where they can be recycled, such as Sims Recycling Solutions and Virogreen. This will give at least some parts in electronic items a chance to be recycled and will gradually decrease the amount of e-waste being produced.
Another way to reduce e-waste is to stop replacing phones and laptops if they are in good shape and extend their life as much as possible. Try not to get tempted by the constant marketing and advertisements to replace your phones and electronic devices for the new “enhanced” features which you may not even need!
Thirdly, give repair a chance! If an item such as your phone, laptop or music system is not working, explore if it can be repaired and don’t immediately throw it away to buy a new one. By repairing it, you can use your electronic items, laptops and phones for a longer period. Who knows, if you use them long enough, they may even become antiques of great value!
We should all help reduce the amount of e-waste in Singapore and help make a difference, as it can either sit in a landfill and add to all the waste created or it can be recycled to make new products. Moreover, e-waste releases a poisonous liquid that reaches water bodies, soil, groundwater, and air, affecting both sea and land animals. It can also cause serious harm to us humans, as e-waste materials can end up in crops that get consumed by us, as well as our drinking water. So please, stop and think about the effects of your actions before you throw away your next electronic item.
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