Almost every third Bulgarian uses their mobile phone until it stops working, and for larger devices – such as laptops and TVs, this proportion is almost twice as large as reaching 55% and 68%, respectively. The data is from a recent Yettel study on consumer attitudes and behavior towards technology. A comparison with the results of 2023 shows that, despite the rapid development of technology and the appearance of new models, consumers tend to change their devices less often and thus extend their life.
In addition, the number of people who send their old equipment for recycling is increasing, at the expense of those who put it in the general waste. Yettel’s survey results describe five key scenarios for end-of-life device routing.
They stay at home as a backup
A large percentage of consumers decide to keep their old devices at home as a backup – more than 40% on average, with the most obvious trend for laptops (53%) and mobile phones (49%). The reasons are different. From having an extra device in case of damage or loss, to not knowing where and how to dispose of e-waste, and last but not least – feeling towards things.
In these cases, electronics that have been stored for a long time can degrade, but more importantly, they can emit harmful and toxic substances that endanger our health. On the other hand, there are valuable consumable resources such as gold, copper and aluminum, which, if recycled, can be given a “second life” and used in the production of other tools.
They are disposed of in general waste
This is the most undesirable situation because it has a negative impact on the environment. At the top of the list of the fastest growing type of waste in the world, discarded non-functional appliances are already reaching alarming proportions on a global scale. According to the Global E-waste Monitor, 62 million metric tons of electronic waste were generated in the world in 2022 alone, and it is expected that by 2030, their volume will reach 82 million metric tons. However, only less than 20% of them are recycled.
When exposed to nature, electronics take years to degrade and pose a threat to human health because they can release harmful substances into the soil, water and air. But if they are treated correctly, its components can be reused without harming the environment.
The good news is that Bulgarians are less and less likely to mix electronics with general waste – about 10% on average in 2024. Yettel’s research shows that for almost all devices that are considering, that the percentage of this answer falls between 2 and 4 points here. year . If it happens, it is more likely to be in people over 40 when they change their television.
They are provided for recycling
The increase in people recycling devices that do not work is a sign of increased consumer awareness and responsibility towards the environment and the use of resources. The most obvious difference is with records – almost triple growth compared to 2023 and their share already reaches 23%. Like mobile phones, where the difference is 6 percentage points compared to the previous year.
Motivated by their desire to reduce environmental pollution, but also by the possibility of additional financial incentives, nearly 84% of consumers who have returned an old appliance for recycling indicate that they benefited from a discount on future purchases. One of the operator programs – “Recycle and Save” offers just such an option. In return for providing non-working equipment, telecom customers can receive favorable terms for the purchase of selected smartphones and smart accessories. In addition, at any store of the telco, people, regardless of whether they are Yettel subscribers, can bring in unwanted equipment and cables for recycling.
Used again by a relative or friend
Another common option is reusing devices from relatives or friends – almost as popular with all types of electronics considered. Most often – in 35% of cases, this happens with mobile phones and TV. This type of activity extends the life of electronic devices, but also supports the sharing economy and gives a “second life” to things that we don’t actively use. The most common use is among users between the ages of 30 and 49.
It can be seen in the situations discussed that the subject of e-waste and recycling is seen in a different way by people. Some customers treat their old electronics like any other waste, while others are already aware of the dangers of this type of pollution. This confirms the need for more efforts to popularize measures to reduce the negative footprint and optimize the use of natural resources.
Yettel has been working for years to raise awareness and prevent e-waste pollution. For the past two years, the telecom has been able to prevent 47.5 tons of e-waste from entering the landfill on its way to fulfilling the 5-year goal by 2028 of 127 tonnes of e-waste not reaching nature.
Contents:Eitel
2024-08-22 11:44:15
#devices #consumers #buy
