Critical warning from experts: Do not keep unused electronic devices at home

Unused electronic devices not only take up unnecessary space in homes but also cause losses to the national economy and contribute to environmental pollution. Recent data shows that approximately 1 million tons of electronic waste are generated in Turkey every year, yet only a very small portion of this amount is systematically recycled.

Experts point out that devices such as old phones, computers, and tablets contain metals with economic value, including gold, silver, and copper. ITU Zero Waste Institute Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Börte Köse Mutlu stated that it is of great importance to collect electronic waste properly and deliver it to recovery facilities, noting, "Depending on the brand, model, and production year of the phone, an average of 25-35 milligrams of gold can be extracted from a single mobile phone. When millions of devices are collected, this rate makes a significant contribution to the economy."

Highlighting the complexity of the recycling process, Mutlu emphasized that it is both impossible and potentially dangerous for citizens to try to extract valuable metals from devices individually. "It is not a situation where you can just extract gold by hand. Recycling must be carried out by authorized facilities; this is essential to prevent both environmental and health risks," she said.

Recommending that e-waste be delivered to licensed collection centers, Mutlu added that throwing waste directly into the trash or keeping it at home leads to both economic and environmental damage. Pointing out that only 20 percent of electronic waste is recovered for reuse, Mutlu stated that it is possible to increase this rate through systematic collection and incentives.

Dr. Sevil Alp, an Energy Engineer at Okan University, pointed out that approximately 1 billion euros worth of potential is wasted annually by keeping unused electronic products in homes or warehouses in an unregistered and scattered manner, stating, "A device that a person keeps in their home alone corresponds to a large economic volume when considered collectively. These products are used in industry and advanced technology, forming a strong chain of raw materials for our country."

Zekican Gündüz, who serves as a facility manager at Akademi Çevre Integrated Waste Management, which operates in the recycling sector, provided the following information about the process:

"Waste is separated according to its category, plastic parts are removed, and then it moves to the refinery stage. Pre-crushing and smelting processes are carried out here. For example, when 1 ton of electronic circuit boards is processed, approximately 300 kilograms of metal are obtained. A large portion of these metals is copper, and valuable metals such as gold and silver can also be extracted using chemical methods. All these processes are carried out to reintroduce the products into the industry."

Underlining that keeping devices at home due to concerns about personal data or the thought that they might be needed in the future is a wrong approach, Gündüz pointed out that as technology develops, old devices become unusable and are merely potential waste. Emphasizing that the amount of electronic waste collected in Turkey last year was limited to 56 thousand tons, Gündüz stated that the remaining large amount is waiting in warehouses and homes.

Gündüz said, "What we do is 'above-ground mining.' When 1 ton of scrap mobile phones is recycled, we can obtain an average of 300 grams of gold. However, in underground mining, even a few grams of gold often do not come out of 1 ton of soil. For this reason, recycling is very important both economically and environmentally."

On the other hand, it is aimed to support the public more in this area, especially through incentive systems implemented by the state and the private sector. Experts called for electronic waste not to be kept at home or thrown in the trash, both for environmental sensitivity and to contribute to the national economy.