Doing our bit for the environment

Reports show that the world generates 40 million tonnes of electronic waste annually*. If that’s too big a scale to comprehend, think of it as chucking away 800 laptops every second for a year, every year. The problem seems almost too big to conquer.

There are things we can do to make our own contribution to reduce how much ends up as waste. Most people change their mobile phone every 18 months. If yours is still working okay, try keeping it for longer. The team at Hex can help offset some of the issues older devices may encounter, such as reduced power with a replacement battery: an easy and cost-effective fix.

If you do buy a new phone or computer, your old device may still be of use to someone else. Hex can refurbish mobile phones, so they can have another life after you no longer need it, keeping it far away from toxic landfill. Charities and community programmes are also frequently on the lookout for second-hand electronic devices, particularly computers, so that’s another option.

If Hex is unable to repair a device and it’s reached the end of its useful life, we can still usually harvest key components for use in our repair centre, particularly useful for older models where parts are harder to find. What we don’t or can’t reuse we forward to a certified recycler.

There’s a groundswell of support, such as Right to Repair, to address the increasing hurdles introduced by manufacturers to getting devices repaired. Until we’re all able to buy 10-year smartphones, let’s become more conscious of how we dispose of our unwanted devices and where they end up. From repairs to recycling, Hex wants to help.