e-waste management
Achieving net zero with sustainable e-waste solutions Reducing, reusing and recycling e-waste for a circular economy Robert Vinokurov, General Manager, Client Solutions Group, Dell Technologies Australia & New Zealand
C
limate change is an econom-
to embrace a digital lifestyle at work and
leased or owned hardware and sanitise the
ic, social and environmental
in their stay-at-home leisure time.
device to ensure data doesn’t fall into the
challenge with increasingly
Finding the balance between input and
wrong hands. The service prioritises reuse
evident consequences, and
output of greenhouse emissions is a crucial
where possible — we resell what we can and
human-produced green-
step to reducing the extent of global warm-
responsibly recycle what we can’t, adhering
house gas emissions are the primary
ing, and e-waste recycling programs can go
to strict standards for environmental compli-
cause. Methane concentrations have almost
a long way to achieve this. We could save
ance worldwide.
doubled in recent years, and in 2021, the
23,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions by recycling
The Asset Recovery Services program
highest CO2 concentration reading in hu-
just half of the televisions discarded annually.
simultaneously reduces e-waste and puts
man history was recorded at 416 ppm.
Not to mention the millions of computers,
money back in customers’ pockets allowing
E-waste is a big part of the problem — it’s
mobile phones and other electronic equip-
them to fund new technology — it’s a win-
responsible for 70% of the toxic chemicals
ment we send to landfill when they break,
win situation. Businesses can follow the
found in landfill. Perhaps more importantly,
or we upgrade to keep up with the evolving
entire process online through our TechDirect
if we were to recycle the raw materials,
digital landscape.
portal, and we offer a comprehensive report
we would reduce the need to extract and
To achieve net zero without sacrificing
of the process. We hope the clear benefits
refine more, thereby avoiding 2.9 tonnes of
economic growth and technological innova-
and hands-off nature of the program will
CO2 per tonne of products manufactured.
tion, we need to invest in e-waste practices
encourage more businesses to recycle their
According to ‘The Global E-waste
that create a circular and sustainable econ-
e-waste, to create a culture of sustainability
Monitor 2020’, the world produced a
omy. At Dell Technologies, we’ve recovered
within the tech industry and reduce overall
record 53.6 million tonnes of e-waste in
more than 2.5 billion pounds (1.1 billion kg)
greenhouse gas production.
2019. At the current rate, we’ll produce
of used electronics since 2007. But to have
The next 10 years of climate action will
74 million tonnes annually by 2030. The
a significant positive environmental impact,
determine the world’s success against the
reduce, reuse, recycle slogan that we
we’re taking a firm, proactive stance in 2022.
increasing threat. As we rebuild our lives
apply to plastics, homewares and other
We’ve built on our 25+ years of experience
post-pandemic, we have the opportunity to
lifestyle products hasn’t been readily
in global recycling services to rethink and
correct our actions with new solutions and
applied to our electronics. Only 17.4%
redesign our approach with a global program
produce real, sustainable change — for a
of e-waste was recycled in 2019, and
— Asset Recovery Services.
clean, innovative tomorrow.
our consumption levels show no sign of
The program has launched locally in ANZ
stopping; major technology companies saw
and offers businesses the chance to mitigate
drastic increases in profits in 2020–2021
their impact while maximising value. We
as the COVID-19 pandemic drove people
manage the pickup logistics of any brand of
24 This issue is sponsored by — Schneider Electric — se.com/au/getreadyformore
Dell Technologies www.delltechnologies.com https://www.dell.com/en-au/dt/services/deployment-services/assetresale-recycling.htm