Courtesy of Cable Leader

Responsible Cable Recycling

As consumer technology becomes more cutting-edge, it’s easy to become immersed on having the latest gadget on the market every time something new is released. The question then becomes what happens to the devices those gadgets replace? Due to the accelerated nature of consumer technology, electronic waste is one of the biggest environmental concerns society faces today. Every new device purchase comes with a charging cord or another type of connection cable or both. These cords are often made with the same hazardous materials as the devices to which they are connected. Nevertheless, because they’re not as physically large, they tend to be unnoticed when recycling e-waste.

Fortunately, there are a lot of ways consumers can engage in cord and cable recycling that can help keep these parts out of landfills and prevent them from creating more ecological problems. For example, many schools and youth groups have STEM programs that may be able to use unwanted cords and cables for educational purposes. Countless electronics retailers have recycling programs that will accept cords and cables along with their respective electronics.

Of course, one of the most effective strategies for reducing e-waste is to follow the principles of reducing and re-using. This could involve giving your unwanted cords and cables to friends and family who might be able to use them. It could also mean holding off on upgrading your device to the next model if you don’t need to, as the new device almost
certainly will come with another cord that would replace your existing one.

The cords and cables that come with your electronic devices can contribute just as much to the e-waste problem as the devices themselves. Rather than simply throwing your unwanted cords and cables away, it’s critical to recycle them responsibly to prevent them from being added to the growing problem of e-waste around the world. The following guide offers some of the best ideas for recycling cables and cords from electronic devices.