Man’s lifestyle today means that he is surrounded by electronic devices for a large part of his activities, such as tablets, smartphones, desktop or laptop computers, televisions, etc.

But these electronic devices can also contain toxic substances, such as lead, mercury and cadmium, which can cause environmental or health problems if not disposed of properly. Therefore, in order not to aggravate this situation, two actions can be taken: extend the life of appliances or recycle them properly.

There are many ways to maximize the life of existing products while optimizing their value.

Turning the device off when not in use is a good way to extend its life. Even in standby mode, electronic equipment consumes electricity.

Unplugging is not recommended for smart speakers and set-top boxes that are set up to record late-night TV shows, but most devices benefit from being turned off.

On the smartphone and computer side, they benefit from periodic reboots, which clear the cache. The same goes for home broadband routers, which can take this opportunity to update essential firmware.

One of the most obvious actions to extend the life of these devices is to provide physical protection. For example, on the side of televisions _which have now become fragile due to their thinness_, it is useful to mount them on the wall or place them on fixed furniture to prevent catastrophic falls.

Also useful for smartphones or laptops have screen protectors or cases to prevent scratches and withstand shock. Moreover, apart from protecting the integrity of the device, it will keep its state, which means you could get more money on a future exchange or part sale, the portal details. broadband offers.

It is also important to operate the peripherals. Properly store joysticks, remotes, and stylus pens out of the reach of children or pets.

It also helps to keep the cables tidy. These are preferred by pets, who can chew on plastic and damage it, even compromising the animal’s integrity if connected.

You can tie up the cables using clips and organizers; place them behind furniture that is close to the wall; prevent cords from dragging on the floor where vacuum cleaners can snag them.

On the battery side, they have a finite lifespan and can only be charged so many times before their efficiency starts to suffer. Therefore, you should only charge a battery when it is 100% full, or regularly drain it completely.

Items with rechargeable batteries in them are useless once the battery cells deteriorate and no longer store a charge, while overload also wastes electricity.

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It can also extend the life of electronic devices reducing your exposure to dust, heat, sunlight and moisture. Keep wet clothing or humidifiers away from electronic equipment whose plastic circuit boards can be damaged by moist air.

97% of electronic waste ends up in landfills, rivers and streams. Therefore, once the useful life of the device has come to an end, it is time to send it to recycling centers to prevent the components from causing contamination.

Ecuador has set up structures to recycle electronic waste once it has reached its useful life in a technically sustainable way, according to Gestor Ambiental Vertmonde, an Ecuadorian company specializing in the technical recycling of electronic waste and circular electronics, through environmentally friendly processes.

The company _whose details have managed to recycle more than 3,000 tons of waste, equivalent to 3,000 small vehicles_, It has a home electrical waste collection service, the same one that operates across the country. Another alternative is to leave your waste free of charge at one of the fixed collection points installed in Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca, Ambato and Cañar.