We are in the technological age, and the constant need for the most recent and high-tech products is, unfortunately, contributing to a mass amount of e-waste. Let’s start by defining the term e-waste.
E-waste is a term that encompasses various forms of electrical and electronic equipment that are either old, cease to be of any value to their owners or are simply at the end of their useful lives.
E-waste has become a global pandemic especially due to its increasing quantity and toxicity. Often, the improper disposal of e-waste poses a great danger to both human health and the environment.
In this post, we will be presenting details of 7 types of e-waste categories and the type of equipment in each category.
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ICT and Telecommunications Equipment
These items include things such as personal computers (CPU, screen, mouse and keyboard etc.), printers, networking equipment, laptops, mainframes, audio amplifiers, television sets, musical instruments, radio sets, mobile phones, scanners, CD/DVDs/floppy disks and video cameras.
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Office Electronics
As technology advances, older machinery tends to become obsolete or requires replacing. They are calculators, photocopying equipment, electrical and electronic typewriters, telephones and facsimile (fax machines).
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Large Household Appliances
These appliances include freezers, refrigerators, dishwashers, cookers, washing machines, air conditioner appliances, microwaves, electric radiators, electric heating appliances, large appliances for heating rooms, beds and seating furniture, electric fans and electric hotplates.
Related: How to Properly Dispose of an Old Air Conditioner
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Small Household Appliances
Other home appliances are smaller in size but are still consisted of e-waste. Things such as carpet sweepers, vacuum cleaners, electric knives, toasters, water dispensers, fryers, appliances for hair drying, hair cutting, massage and shaving and appliances used for sewing, weaving and knitting.
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Consumer Equipment
Items that fall under this heading are equipment for sanding, milling, turning, sawing, grinding, drilling, shearing, cutting, folding, bending, punching or processing metal, wood or other materials, tools for soldering, welding or similar use, tools for nailing, screwing, riveting or removing nails, rivets, screws or similar uses, sewing machines and tools for gardening activities such as mowing.
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Medical Equipment
There is a range of equipment that falls under this category. They are radiotherapy equipment, scanners, laboratory equipment for in-vitro diagnosis, freezers, pulmonary ventilators, cardiology equipment, dialysis equipment, stethoscopes and electrical appliances for detecting, preventing, treating, monitoring, and alleviating injury, illness and disability.
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Toys leisure and sports equipment
As kids grow older, they will no longer require their toys and games for entertainment. Things such as hand-held video games, video game consoles, car racing sets, electric trains, computers for biking, running, rowing, and diving and sports equipment with electric or electronic components.
E-waste poses one of the greatest environmental challenges globally. Developing countries are particularly hard hit by the fast-growing surplus of global e-waste generation. Low initial costs, increased advancements in technology and high rates of obsolescence continue to increase the annual amount of e-waste generated annually. This has resulted in various challenges that call for intervention.
Consequences of Improper Waste Disposal
The social, economic and ecological consequences resulting from the poor handling, disposal and management of e-waste include:
- Air pollution
- Toxicity of radioactive nature of e-waste to water, soil, human as well as animals
- Substantially increased expenditure on healthcare
- Poor health (e.g. cancerous mercury and lead poisoning)
- Lost of opportunities for employment in recycling industries
- High investment in expensive and complex environmental remediation technologies
Remove Your Waste with Us! Contact us today!
Any electrical or electronic appliance has the potential to cause damage to human health and the environment if it is not disposed of responsibly.
At Paul’s Rubbish Removal Sydney, we offer the best same-day junk removal service at the lowest prices throughout Sydney.
Proper disposal of e-waste is our top priority to ensure that we protect our environment. Whether you have an old refrigerator you can’t wait to get rid of or you need to declutter your office, don’t hesitate to call us for an instant FREE quote 0407 125 125.
