This article first appeared in Digital Edge, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on May 3, 2021 - May 9, 2021
How many of you have old mobile phones stashed away in a drawer somewhere in the house or old computer monitors collecting dust in cupboards? During our lifetime, it is likely that we have purchased many electrical appliances and electronic devices but did not know how to properly dispose of them when they reached their end of life.
Many of these items actually contain valuable materials — like the metals in microchips or the steel frame surrounding the item — and can be recycled. If the computer is still in relatively good condition, it can be refurbished or remanufactured into a new computer, for instance.
Throwing these items into a landfill results in a waste of valuable raw materials and pollution of the environment, given that e-waste comprises toxic elements such as mercury and lead. The best approach is to send your e-waste to legitimate collection points and recyclers. Here are five ways you can do so in Malaysia.
1 ERTH
You can get a free e-waste pickup if you have at least three qualified e-waste devices, and get paid for them. Just fill up the booking form on its website. ERTH recycles 100% of the electronic devices it collects using a government-licensed recycling facility, according to its website.
2 Senheng
The electronics chain store has an e-waste recycling programme that offers cash vouchers to people who bring in e-waste items to its outlets. It also offers a free collection service for bulky e-waste items. In addition, the public can trade in their old devices for new ones through Senheng’s trade-in programme.
3 IPC Recycling & Buy-Back Centre
IPC accepts equipment such as laptops, printers, wires, chargers and CPUs, as well as small appliances like irons, toasters, hair dryers and old car batteries. The recycling centre is conveniently located in a mall.
4 DOE’s household e-waste collection points
The Department of Environment’s website has a list of e-waste collection points in 12 states. It has information on the collection points and the items it accepts.
5 Zero Waste Malaysia map
This map shows the e-waste collection points in the country, as well as the collection points for other types of waste.
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