Smartphone, in this small device, the whole world has come together. We get planet by hindering this, through this we connect with people and the world. And today, through this, we also entertain ourselves.
And if we sit to count its shortcomings, then what are they? Yes, it takes a lot of our time. It cuts us from the real world. And many times, because of this, diseases like depression also start happening.
What are the shortcomings? Yes, smartphones and such other gadgets are also heavy on our environment. Because of them, electronic waste is generated. Because we are buying new gadgets and throwing away even the oldest gadgets.
Repairing a Broken Smartphone
Have you ever repaired your broken smartphone? Or instead of that, quickly bought a new phone? It is difficult to repair the phone. And this is the problem. All over the world, 5 crore metric tons of electronic waste is generated every year.
This is equivalent to throwing 1000 laptops in the garbage every second. Still, tech companies are making it difficult and expensive to repair a broken phone. This method is not at all sustainable.
And behind it, there are companies that make smartphones. But why can’t we easily change the battery of our phone? Because the companies that make phones don’t want this. And it doesn’t stop here.
After 3-4 years of buying a phone, most of the companies don’t help you much in its security and software updates. No one cares about the old software. This is done on purpose.
Companies want you to keep buying new smartphones. Obviously, this is how the companies that make smartphones earn. Repairing a small malfunction in a smartphone is also a big job.
If you repair it from a registered store, it will cost a lot. Because companies also earn on repairing phones. Apple’s new iPhone 15 is a good example of how repairing a malfunction in a phone is a difficult and expensive deal.
It has a software lock. If you have installed a new part instead of a part, and it’s not Apple’s, then the phone’s system finds out. Then the phone starts showing a warning message.
Or it can stop working. Apple says that they want to ensure that their device works properly. But in reality, this is their way of selling their expensive spare parts.
The Hidden Dangers of Smartphone E-Waste and What You Can Do About It
To avoid such a disaster, people often buy new phones. This means that more smartphones are made. They are sent all over the world.
There is more pollution for them. And there is destruction of resources. This increases the number of carbon dioxide and electronic waste.
There are many dangerous elements in e-waste. Such as cadmium, lead, mercury and dioxin. There are also precious metals such as gold and rare metals.
According to one estimate, 530 crore mobile phones were thrown in the garbage in the world in 2022. In America, people change their phones every 1.5 years. The number of such people is also increasing in India.
You must have seen some people around you, on whom the passion to buy new phones is always riding. If this continues, then according to the World Economic Forum, it is estimated that by 2050, the annual e-waste will double and reach around 12 crore tons. As far as India is concerned, in 2021-22, the total e-waste was more than 16 lakh tons.
The reason for this is our greed for new gadgets. If we don’t handle it, then this mountain of e-waste will continue to grow. Instead of buying new, the environment will benefit from fixing bad things.
Many attempts have been made before that companies like Apple, Microsoft and Amazon should be convinced to make sustainable products. But big tech companies have spent lakhs of dollars on politicians so that they do not support laws related to repairing. Companies count many reasons against repairing.
First, they say that the right to repair will damage their intellectual property. Their second concern is the safety of customers. What will happen if people get hurt repairing the device? Companies also claim that hacking can increase by repairing the device.
And the last argument is that poor repairing can ruin the company’s reputation. Supporters of the right to repair consider these arguments baseless. They say that companies are only concerned that their earnings will be reduced by repairing.
Despite the big reach of big companies, governments have taken some steps. The European Parliament recently gave the right to repair a green flag. Under the new law, the seller and manufacturer will have to provide free repairing in the warranty period.
The Electronics Right to Repair Act has also been passed in California. Under this, everyone will have to provide parts, tools and necessary manuals to repair the device. Its purpose is to reduce waste and carbon pollution.
These attempts seem powerful, but it is not so easy to get rid of big companies as their unsustainable business. If you want to fix your broken phone, then i.fixit.com website can help you. You tell me, are you also a supporter of buying a new gadget to avoid problems or to get the old one repaired? Companies have to increase their business.
That’s why they will keep bringing new laptops, smartphones, video games, tablets, etc. and will keep tempting you. But this greed is also heavy on your pocket.
And it is also increasing the risk to the environment. Because usually after buying a new device, the old one goes in the trash. And this increases e-waste.
So what is the solution? The solution is to use your devices to the fullest. And if they get damaged, then before buying a new one, try once to see if it can be repaired. We have to do this to protect our environment.
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