Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are found in many devices we use every day, like smartphones, laptops, tablets, wireless earbuds, power tools, e-bikes, and electric vehicles. By 2023, there were more than 40 million electric vehicles on the road worldwide, and billions of portable electronics used Li-ion cells. These batteries are valuable for recycling, but they can be dangerous if not disposed of correctly.
About 8 million Americans use CPAP machines every night for sleep apnea. Dealing with the electronics, plastic tubing, and silicone masks from these devices has created a major waste problem. In most places, CPAP machines are considered electronic waste, so throwing them in the trash is usually illegal. The compressor inside has circuit boards with lead, mercury, and cadmium, which can pollute soil and water if not handled properly.
Charging phones and portable devices has become one of the most routine actions of modern life. From the moment we wake up to the time we go to sleep, our devices depend on reliable power. We charge at home, in offices, cafés, airports, hotels, libraries, and public transportation spaces. Despite how frequently charging occurs, the physical environments designed to support it often feel like an afterthought.
We all have a favorite purchase that we'd love to last forever. Maybe it's a fuzzy blanket that nothing comes close to replicating, or a limited-edition, circa-2008 bedazzled iPod shuffle. As priceless as these things feel, they're not infallible. You've got about two to three years, give or take, before your beloved bed sheets and feather pillows are going to give up the ghost and need replacing.
His findings were interpreted by a group of artists for the show at the Last Shot Gallery. Maslin says the environmental impact of tech consumption is estimated to account for 6% of the human-driven climate crisis double that of the aviation industry. There is a lack of awareness that all the gadgets people are using and replacing are contributing to overconsumption, huge pollution and climate change, he said.
With Windows 10 reaching end of life on 14 October, enterprises and consumers alike globally will be making the shift to Microsoft's newer operating system. While issues like security and device compatibility have become common recurring talking points, concerns have been rising about a looming torrent of e-waste, with thousands of tonnes of waste expected in the UK alone. A key factor behind this is that many older devices aren't capable of running the newer operating system, rendering them obsolete and bound for the scrapheap.
Gold worth more than £1.6 billion could be recovered from UK devices obsoleted when Microsoft discontinues free support on October 14, according to Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) experts at Businesswaste.co.uk. The eye-popping number comes from taking the UK's share of the global PC market and applying it to the current best guess of how many devices are unable to accept the Windows 11 upgrade, respectively corresponding to 3.6 percent and 400 million devices. This translates to 14.4 million obsolete PCs in the UK.
The pending release of Apple's iOS 26 could see around 75 million iPhones rendered obsolete, generating more than 1.2 million kilograms of e-waste globally, according to new research. The next major version of Cupertino's mobile operating system is scheduled to be released this month following its announcement at WWDC in June. That will affect the owners of aging iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max devices, which are to be excluded from the update, according to waste management operation Business Waste.
Buying a GPS watch isn't a casual purchase. Most runners are dropping somewhere between $300 and $800 on a device they expect to last years. At that price, you're not just paying for battery life or training metrics. You're buying into a promise of reliability, toughness, and support if something goes sideways. But when things do break - and they do - the story often falls apart. Cracked screens. Busted buttons. Dead batteries. None of these issues should mean a watch is done for,
Samsung's Certified Renewed program offers refurbished Galaxy S24 smartphones at discounted prices, promoting e-waste reduction while ensuring quality comparable to new devices.
