Every year, October 14 is celebrated as International E-Waste Day. This year’s theme is based on the slogan “Join the e-waste hunt – Recover, Recycle, and Give Them a New Life!”, focusing on unused electronics that are stored in homes, without owners realizing that these devices contain valuable materials that can be reused in other equipment.
On the occasion of World Recycling Day, InfoCons offers consumers the Free European InfoCons App. Through the app, consumers can scan the QR codes on energy efficiency labels to find out which centers they can turn to for recycling electronic and household appliances.
Read also : What You Need to Know About Fragrance Diffusers
The European InfoCons App facilitates the recycling process for electronic and household appliances, providing consumers with the following information:
- A complete list of recycling collection points, indicating the center closest to the user’s location;
- Updated information about each collection point, including essential details about the types of recyclable materials accepted at each location;
After the consumer scans the QR code on the energy efficiency label of the electrical or household appliance, they have the option to choose the center closest to their location, regardless of the county they are in. Subsequently, the app will guide the user to an interactive map of the city, where they can view the location of the selected center and how to get there.
Read also : Did you know….that approximately 1 in 7 young people aged 10 to 19 are living with a diagnosed mental health condition ?
Recycling through the European InfoCons App is an important action for protecting the environment by reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, conserving natural resources, and minimizing the negative impact on the environment.
International E-Waste Day is dedicated to raising public awareness and was initiated by the WEEE Forum and its members, aiming to emphasize the importance of responsible management of electronic waste and the options available to every citizen in their community. Last year, 195 companies from 55 countries participated in organized events, including electronic waste collections, social media activities, and press campaigns.
According to the latest UN General E-Waste Monitor report, an impressive 62 billion kilograms of electronic waste was generated globally in 2022. This is equivalent to 1.55 million trucks loaded with electronic waste stretching along the Earth’s equator. Projections indicate that the global volume of e-waste could reach 82 billion kilograms by 2030. Currently, the generation of e-waste is increasing at a rate five times faster than the formal recycling collection rates since 2010.
Read more about : Air passenger rights
Electronic waste includes items powered by cable or battery, but the most frequently “forgotten” are small electronics: old mobile phones, cables, USB sticks, card readers, gaming consoles, and other devices often kept in drawers.
This year’s edition aims to encourage people to clear out their cupboards and drawers of unused or broken devices. In doing so, everyone can contribute to reducing pollution, conserving resources, and saving energy and CO2 emissions.
InfoCons – European Organization for Consumer Protection and Promotion of Programs and Strategies , a full member of the World Organization Consumers International, founding member of the Federation of Consumer Associations, and member of ANEC.