We explain what you should do to recycle electrical chargers and cables properly.
Recycling electric chargers and cables has become an obligation, especially if we want to keep the planet clean of unnecessary waste. Although some manufacturers have stopped including them in the box of their devices, it is not uncommon for these components to accumulate at home. If it is happening to you, what steps should you follow so that they can be reused? Let’s see.
Index of contents
- Before recycling electric chargers and cables, it is best to take care of them
- Recycle electric chargers and cables at the nearest recycling point
- Recycling electric chargers and cables: frequently asked questions
- What is a clean point?
- How are electric chargers and cables recycled?
- Are they fully recyclable?
- What is the fate of electric cables and chargers?
- Give a new life to your chargers and cables
Before recycling electric chargers and cables, it is best to take care of them
Extending the useful life of any electronic product is even better than recycling it. Something similar happens with accessories such as cables and electric chargers . What can you do to take care of them and make them last longer? Here are some tips:
- Keep the cables in an orderly way and not in any way. This way you avoid pulling them to get them out because they have become entangled with others. A good suggestion is to use rubber bands to organize the cables. Also, this allows you to categorize them according to their use.
- Roll them carefully. In this way, you will prevent them from cracking or ending up breaking.
- Avoid moisture or heat sources. This suggestion serves you both to conserve cables and electric chargers. On the other hand, avoid inappropriate uses, such as connecting to unsupported ports.
Recycle electric chargers and cables at the nearest recycling point
Everything ends. And even when you have made an effort to take care of your cables or chargers , they someday stop working. So, what are the steps to follow to start recycling?
The truth is that the consumer has it very easy when it comes to recycling electric chargers and cables . If you have any of these components at home and it no longer works, all you have to do is go to the nearest recycling point . There, follow the instructions of the employees. They will tell you which is the best place to deposit electronic components.
To find your nearest clean point to your place of residence, you have several alternatives:
- Do a quick search on Google Maps.
- Access the website of your municipality or your Autonomous Community.
- Take advantage of the clean point search engineprovided by the OCU. They are classified by provinces and municipalities.
A good idea to avoid multiple car journeys is to walk to the clean point . Another is to take advantage of a trip you make to recycle another larger product . Lastly, you can also stack multiple chargers and cables and carry them all at once.
Recycling electric chargers and cables: frequently asked questions
Before closing this guide completely, we answer some frequently asked questions that arise in reference to the recycling of electric chargers and cables. In this way, we try to resolve any doubts that may remain regarding this matter.
What is a clean point?
A clean point is a space intended for the selective collection of waste in order to recycle or destroy it properly. Although the main materials that are collected are glass, containers, paper and cardboard, it is generally allowed to dispose of furniture, pruning remains or oils. They are also the ideal place to carry electronic products, such as computers, cables or chargers.
These spaces are municipally owned , although in some parts of Spain they are managed by county councils or county councils . However, regardless of who is responsible for it, if your municipality has more than 5,000 inhabitants, in accordance with Law 10/1998, of April 21, on Waste, it must have a space with these characteristics enabled.
Keep in mind that, depending on the area you live in, the name of the clean point may vary. For example, in Catalonia the term deixalleria (from the Catalan, deixalla , waste) is popularly used. Something similar happens with Euskadi, where they are called garbigunes . Your municipality may also use the expression green point .
How are electric chargers and cables recycled?
The recycling process of these components does not differ excessively from that of other objects. The main thing is to apply a separation of the materials that make up the product (plastics, metals and other substances). In the event that their characteristics facilitate their reuse, they are processed and destined for industries that will take advantage of them in their products.
Are they fully recyclable?
In a large part of the occasions, recycling electric chargers and cables means completely reusing their materials . While we cannot ensure that absolutely every part of a charger is recyclable, these electronic components have a high recyclability rate .
What is the fate of electric cables and chargers?
The recycling process of a charger or a cable begins with the separation of its materials . As you can imagine, we are mainly dealing with elements that include plastics and metals.
In most cases, this type of raw material can be used as many times as necessary in new products. This is the case of copper, present in a large number of cables that we use in our day to day. Since it does not lose properties , it can be reused indefinitely to make more cables or for other purposes. And with aluminum and plastic something similar happens.
Give a new life to your chargers and cables
No one is unaware that consumer electronics generates a large amount of waste . Chargers and cables play a fundamental role in our daily lives, feeding the batteries of our phones and laptops. However, when they reach the end of their useful life, it is best to recycle them so that their materials can be reused in the future. We hope that the information provided in this guide has helped you to solve your doubts regarding recycling electric chargers and cables .
And you, where do you usually throw these types of components? Do you think that we have too many chargers and that, therefore, companies are right not to include them? It seems that some countries are not so clear on the latter . Leave your opinion in the comments! The Professional Review community is waiting for you.
