2020 represented a cultural shift in the way we work and interact with tech, with billions of us forced to stay at home to slow the spread of COVID-19. Although the pandemic is now under control in large parts of the world, a spike in home office equipment sales has caused many to grow concerned over the amount of new e-waste we’re producing.
According to the Royal Society of Chemistry, half of those who moved to telework during the pandemic bought new IT equipment with most failing to recycle the equipment they were replacing. 11% of those who purchased new technology put their old devices in the bin, whilst only 13% chose to recycle.
With offices around the world forced into temporary hibernation due to new work from home policies, experts predict that around 23% of all computers won’t be needed again and that the equivalent to 1,000 laptops per second will be thrown away in the coming year. It’s an unintended consequence of the pandemic and will no doubt change the way we think about our devices. As mountains of e-waste enter our landfills, companies need to adapt in order to reduce their personal impact and make it easier for consumers to dispose of unwanted technology products safely and sustainably.
Forward-thinking companies can indeed benefit from the telecommuting boom, transitioning to greener IT practices and moving things over to the cloud. Cutting down on the number of devices needed in the office not only increased efficiency and security, but it makes firms more resilient and flexible.
With 60% of businesses plan to allow employees to continue remote working in the coming years, policies must be developed to combat redundant PCs and laptops, whether that’s donating them to good causes, redeploying them into workers’ homes, or recycling them. According to a report from 3stepIT, 36% of decision-makers don’t know where their electronic waste ends up, with 10% confessing to dumping it in the landfill.
Are you concerned about rising e-waste numbers? Let us know and check back soon for more.
