While not as glamorous as Marie Kondo’s guide to decluttering based on the “Does it spark joy?” mantra, the proper disposal of ewaste is a serious matter.
“When we got a new TV because the old model stopped working, I tried to find places to recycle the old one, but it was really difficult,” says 30-year-old Loh Chi Fung, a Puchong resident. “This suggests that we need concentrated efforts to make the public aware of ewaste management,” he says, adding that people are still sending their ewaste to informal channels that don’t have the facilities to properly dismantle electronics.“If possible, consider reusing or recycling rather than discarding. Reuse is preferable and much more sustainable than recycling as it extends the lifetime of electrical and electronic equipment,” says Ilankoon.
ERTH, which pays for ewaste, has a free pickup service within the Klang Valley, with plans to expand to other areas. Those outside its service area can send their ewaste via post or check out its website at erth.app for more details.Johnson Wong, from the Saujana Damansara branch of the Tzu Chi recycling centre, says the company inspects the ewaste it receives to recover items that are still usable or can be repaired.
The recycling centres are located in the Klang Valley, with a full list of drop-off points available on the Environment Department’s ewasteAnother option for dealing with old electronics that are still working is to sell them off in second-hand markets. “The pandemic has had a serious impact on the progress of ewaste management, with community efforts stifled during the long movement control period period.
“Discarded fluorescent lamps are also defined as ewaste, including light bulbs,” he says, adding that the mercury in the lamps is highly harmful to the environment. Ilankoon believes that most people do not understand the significance of waste management, thinking that it’s the responsibility of others or the government. — Waste recycling photo created by freepik - www.freepik.com
“However, these operations are capital-intensive and not viable in developing countries,” he clarifies.Mohamed Tarek shares that countries with a recycling rate of over 40% achieved it with an Extended Producer Responsibility , a waste management policy that holds manufacturers responsible for the entire life cycle of their products.