The Christmas holiday is around the corner, trees have been assembled and decorated, ornaments made, lights hung and presents wrapped, and many are anticipating new electronics. Amidst holiday festivities, it’s important to keep the environment in mind while celebrating, and this year we’ve gathered some tips to help you get a jumpstart on keeping this Christmas eco-friendly.
- New electronics can be exciting, but don’t forget to properly dispose of your old devices. Many students are in need of tablets or laptops for school work and cannot afford new devices. Consider donating your retired electronics, or passing them to a family member with a broken or damaged device. Reuse is a way to ensure electronics do not end up in landfills, and if they are beyond reuse, e-waste recycling facilities like HOBI collect old IT equipment and ensure they are disposed of properly.
- One of the most popular holiday traditions is gift giving, which often results in yards of wasted wrapping paper littered all over the floor. This year, consider using wrapping paper made from recycled materials, or recyclable paper to help reduce the amount of paper that is wasted each year. Folding and saving wrapping paper is also a useful method for reuse–if it hasn’t been wadded up and used as dodgeball ammunition.
- Lithium-ion batteries are known to combust when damaged, and can be extremely dangerous to remove without a professional’s help. Unfortunately, these can be found in most electronics including cameras and handheld games. Batteries in general are categorized as toxic waste, and should never be thrown out with municipal waste. To prevent chemical leaks and potential fire risks, consider gifting battery-free gifts.
- Many Christmas trees today are made of plastic material that can be used year after year, however, they are made with petroleum products and use up resources to manufacture and ship. Real trees are a renewable resource that contribute to air quality during growth and are typically recycled into mulch and therefore, the more sustainable option.
- Lastly, we know the urge to decorate is fierce this time of year, but energy conservation is also important. Consider reducing the size of outdoor light displays, or using LED lights that use up to 95 percent less energy than traditional bulbs. Turning off decorative lights during the day, and using outdoor mini lights also helps conserve electricity.
Don’t forget to keep the environment in mind while you celebrate the coming holiday. Whether it’s recycling old electronics, cutting back on lights, using a real tree or gifting battery-free gifts, every effort helps keep the world a little greener.
For more information about electronics recycling or our ITAD services call 817-814-2620, or contact HOBI at sales@hobi.com.