IT people, you may have heard this buzzword: “the circular economy”. While it originated in the 1970s and the underlying concept is not yet a reality, it’s a very important idea whose time has finally come.
And more importantly, it’s one that could help you extract maximum value for yourself and your company.
Reduce, re-use, recycle
That’s because it’s exactly what it sounds like: “the circular economy” is the idea of re-using the components inside everything we make – including IT products – again and again and again, with the aim of using fewer resources in new products. It both saves and generates cash while reducing waste, and that’s exactly what we want.
It’s recycling, in other words, but on a global scale that aims to re-use everything humanity produces to the maximum extent. And today, recycling technology is far more advanced than it was 40+ years ago, making recycling on the scale needed for a true “circular economy” far more realistic.
While recycling is already a way of life for some of us, by the whole world actively taking part, it could be even bigger. It’s a crucial part in any economy that aims to reduce inputs while still producing goods.
Recycling Done Right
When done right, recycling is money… big money. It also means plenty of jobs. But most importantly, it’s the responsible thing to do for our children and the generations to come as it means smarter use of resources and a less-polluted planet for them to enjoy.
While most things in life have both an upside and a downside, there is simply no downside to responsible recycling: every result is a good one.
And the opportunities are endless, because the piles of eWaste are building at an alarming rate; check out these stunning facts:
- Only 12.5% of e-waste is currently recycled – where is the rest going to and why are we not profiting from it and protecting our earth at the same time?
- Recycling just a million laptops saves the energy equivalent of the electricity used by 3,657 homes in a year.
- E-waste is now the fastest-growing municipal waste stream not just here in SA, but in the world.
- It takes 240 kgs of fossil fuel, 22kgs of chemicals and 1.5 tons of water to manufacture justone computer!
Seen it all
And where does this toxic mess of old IT equipment end up? Just ask us at Dispose-IT – we really have seen it all.
From storerooms packed to the rafters at large corporates who really should know better, to a man-made dump at the back of an IT reseller’s dwelling in Wakkerstroom, we see daily how IT waste is polluting every corner of the country.
The bottom line
And if that isn’t enough to make you want to jump on the recycling bandwagon, in rands and cents terms not recycling loses businesses money.
That’s because businesses are missing out on incredible wealth-generating opportunities by ignoring the rich pickings and proven cost-savings of the recycling process.
In every conceivable way, recycling is the gift that keeps on giving. So give the friendly folk at Dispose-IT a call to find out how you can turn recycling into your new pot of gold. It’s what we do.
Get in touch
We can be reached by email on this address, contacted by phone on 010 140 0877, or you can leave a detailed query for us on this contact form.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Ron Keschner is Sales and Marketing Executive at Dispose-IT.