NEEDLESS to state that we in the UAE love the latest smartphones, laptops, and electronic devices. Demand for smart watches, AR and VR products continues to increase along with ultra-large televisions using OLED and QLED technologies as well as smart TVs, owing to widespread availability of high-speed internet in the UAE and the rest of the GCC region.
It’s always the latest, the biggest and the best! Innovation and immersive experiences are at the forefront of consumer technology, and are some of the biggest factors impacting these latest trends. According to Google’s recent research:
The UAE leads global smartphone penetration at 73.8 pc – 9.69 million people in the UAE use smartphones.
Over 90 per cent (91.9) of the population is connected to the internet. Mobile phones account for 63.65 pc of web traffic.
A total of 65.11 per cent of people prefer using mobile internet.
E-commerce has become one of the fastest growing businesses in the UAE; 10.07 million people in the UAE were internet users in 2023. This represents 99 per cent of the total population – almost everyone in the UAE uses internet.
Problem for planet
The proliferation of digital devices is becoming a problem for the planet because once they come to the end of their useful lives – every year more than 50 million tonnes of technological scrap is generated – the recycle rates are poor. Why? Because of the ignorance or sheer laziness of the consumers.
So, what happens to the outdated and discarded electronic stuff? Does it go to some storeroom, boxes, or drawers? Or, do we just ‘get rid’ of it in the garbage? The checklist of some common discarded, outdated e-waste found at homes includes –cell phones desktop PCs, computers, laptops servers/server racks; routers, network switches, radios, satellite boxes; inkjet and laser printers, toners, photocopiers and scanners; projectors VCRs/DVD players, speaker systems; LCD monitors, TVs and air-conditioners.
Harmful substances
Mobile phones contain substances like antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc, which are highly toxic for the environment. These pollute the air, soil, water and can result in health hazards such as cancer, fertility problems, childbirth defects, neurological problems and development disorders.
Rechargeable batteries of the cell phones are also very harmful. They contain toxic substances like cadmium, lithium-ion and nickelmetal hydride, which consist of cobalt, zinc, and copper, and many other heavy metals. These substances may be responsible for lung, liver, and kidney damage.
Recycling benefits
But mobiles phones also contain metals that can be recovered and used in other areas through recycling. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, recycling every one million units of mobile phones saves 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold, 33 pounds of palladium, and 35,274 pounds of copper. It also saves energy that is otherwise used to mine these metals from the earth’s crust.
It is good that the UAE is waking up to this tremendous e-waste and is taking steps to combat the harm done by this garbage. Companies that specialise in e-waste disposal have sprung up as the market of e-waste is burgeoning business.
Future research should include focus on factors such as psychological ownership of the environment and frugal consumption that limits the generation of e-waste. Consumers’ behaviour affects e-waste recycling in the UAE. The impact of environmental consciousness, infrastructural support, and e-waste recycling costs are the factors that need to be publicised.
For lazy consumer with loads of e-waste: Most malls have big recycling bins, just dump it there. Better still, drop off at consumer electronics showrooms. Your e-waste might get you some cashback also!
