This year, your business should commit to reducing its waste. We’re all guilty of generating a lot of waste through our companies, and it has to stop. It’s damaging the environment, and we need to find ways to prevent this from escalating. 

While most companies will create all kinds of waste, there’s one specific type that’s a bigger problem than most. Yep, you guessed it, we’re talking about electronic waste. 

What is electronic waste? 

Basically, it’s any kind of waste that’s leftover by electronic equipment. This includes ink cartridges from printers, old computers, wires, etc. 

Why is electronic waste a problem?

Well, when this type of waste is destroyed, it can be very damaging to the environment. Electrical goods are created using all kinds of things. As such, when they’re destroyed (usually by burning them in a landfill) they release toxic fumes and chemicals into the atmosphere. Not to mention they’re usually incorrectly disposed of and end up contaminating water or soil, causing issues for the wildlife. 

What can we do about this problem?

Every business will generate electronic waste, but there are so many ways to reduce the amount you make. To help you get started, here are some of the best ideas: 

#1 Recycle old devices

Did you know that a lot of electrical devices can be recycled?

Things like computers or monitors are full of materials that can be stripped away and re-used. If you do this, then you drastically reduce the waste you create. You recycle the majority of your electrical goods, leaving hardly anything to be thrown away in a landfill. 

#2 Bring your own devices to work 

This idea is becoming more and more popular as it instantly gets rid of so much electronic waste. Instead of buying lots of devices for people to work on, you get your employees to bring their own things to work. This means that you’re not responsible for replacing broken or outdated machines.

Think about how many computers your business may get through in a few years. If people bring their own laptops to work, then you have no waste to worry about!

#3 Sell your unused printer cartridges

• How many cartridges of ink or toner does your business end up wasting?

It happens so frequently. You buy these products in bulk, then realize you don’t need half of them. As a result, they get thrown in the bin. In reality, all you need to do is find an ink and toner buyer to take these unused items off your hands.

They’ll sell them on to companies that need them, and you get some money back. It’s a win-win situation, so give it a try. 

#4 Look after your electronics

• Be honest, how well do you look after your devices?
• Do you follow all of the best practices to keep them in tip-top shape?

I can almost guarantee most of you don’t complete essential updates on time, and you don’t shut down your PC’s correctly. You leave them on overnight, and you clog them up with potentially dangerous software. So, start looking after things properly.

Update your devices as needed, install anti-virus and anti-malware software to protect them, and make sure you turn them off correctly. This will make your electronics last so much longer. As a consequence, you won’t need to replace them as frequently, minimizing the waste. 

#5 Switch to cloud storage

Lots of businesses still use physical servers to store data. The reasons for this are clear; it’s good to have all of your data in one place and to be in total control of it. However, this means you generate loads of additional electronic waste.

What happens when you have to switch to new servers?

Think about all the wiring you have lying around the place, it’ll need to be replaced at some point!

Instead, why don’t you switch to cloud storage?

All of your data can be kept online, so you don’t need any physical servers. You minimize electronic waste while still ensuring your data is kept securely in a place where you can always access it. 

#6 Don’t upgrade for the sake of it

Too many companies will upgrade their electronic equipment for the sake of it. Again, I can kind of understand the thought process behind this decision. In your mind, it’s not a pointless upgrade. You want to get some new equipment in your business because it’s fresh and modern.

It can make your business seem more professional, and the newer devices may be better than the old ones. But, ask yourself this one simple question; do you actually need to upgrade this device?

If your current devices still work – and nobody has any issues with them – then don’t bother upgrading. You waste so much equipment for no reason at all! Only upgrade if you genuinely need to switch to something else. 

#7 Rent some of your equipment

Most businesses will buy all of their electronic equipment. After all, you use it all the time, so this makes sense. However, you may want to think about renting some equipment instead. Things like printers or specialist equipment can be rented instead of bought. The benefit of this is that you don’t create any waste.

If you no longer want to use the equipment, you stop renting it. It goes back to the company you got it from, and another company can rent it. This is better than throwing something away when you’ve no longer got any use for it. 

#8 Donate your old electronics

One final idea is to give your old electronics away to other people or companies.

A lot of the items you throw away are in decent condition. The devices may work perfectly, so why get rid of them?

Look for other businesses or organizations that could benefit from them. For example, a school may need some new computers. So, donate yours to them, and you prevent lots of electronic waste. 

After seeing all of these genius ideas, you realize how easy it is to cut down on your electronic waste. Start making a commitment today, and your business can help the environment. 

© New To HR