Jharkhand News: Nowadays mobile phones have become an integral part of life, due to which scarcity is felt. It is also clear from a study that people spend a large part of their lives with mobile phones only. The consequences of which are coming forward. In such a situation, it is advised to stay away from mobile for one day in a week. On the other hand, with the passage of time, electronic gadgets including mobiles are becoming a threat to the environment.
Every year 2.8 lakh mobiles and about 50 thousand other electronics gadgets are destroyed
According to estimates, 2.8 lakh mobiles and about 50-55 thousand other electronics gadgets are being turned into waste in Bokaro district every year. There is also a reason that the electronic market upgrades itself from time to time. Due to this, the price of the previous version has come down. The older version of the equipment does not fetch good prices even if it is sold in the open market. So the devices slowly turn into garbage.
E-waste is a challenge for the environment
According to Kirit Vora, state general secretary of mobile retailer organization AIMRA, 20-22 lakh mobiles are currently in use in the district. 90 percent of them are smartphones. As per retail purchase in 2022 alone, 1,35,352 mobiles were upgraded. In 2022 alone, 2.76 lakh people bought a new mobile. At the same time, in 2023, 65,313 mobiles were upgraded offline and many more online. People use every festival as an excuse to buy. Some percentage of mobiles purchased are recycled or replaced for other reasons. A large part is made of garbage. This garbage stays in the house for days. It is then disposed of with household waste. This is called e-waste. This e-waste is gradually becoming a challenge for the environment.
One center works, the other center waits for the CTO
The pollution department has identified two e-waste disposal centers in Chandankiari. But currently it is just a collection center. Jharkhand State Pollution Control (Dhanbad Zone) official Ram Pravesh said that a center is working. Others did not get CTO. Also some companies in Kolkata take e-waste. By recycling. As lead, mercury, cadmium and other chemicals are used in the manufacture of electronic equipment, electronic waste is considered harmful to human health and the environment.
People are switching mobiles without any reason
There is no obvious reason for people to switch mobiles. As a year or two passes, people start to feel outdated about mobiles. At the same time, some people are switching mobiles due to software issues and upgrades. In a 2021 survey by Deft University of Technology, the biggest reasons for switching phones were slow software and declining battery levels. On the other hand, the second major reason was people’s fascination with new phones. People buy new phones despite being influenced by the company’s marketing and friends’ habit of switching phones every year.
The mobile can last for five years
According to experts, the average lifespan of a cell phone is three to three and a half years. But, if the phone is used carefully and wisely, it can last five to six years comfortably. There are many reasons behind changing phones repeatedly. A box for gadget recycling is kept at the service center of various electronics gadget manufacturers. The box is just there, no one to tell its usefulness. On the other hand, ordinary people do not even look at the box. Recently, even during Corona, when common people were asked to donate old mobiles for needy students, only a handful donated old mobiles.
