Here's where you can properly dispose of your old phones and other e-waste

Throwing old phones, chargers or any other broken electronic devices — e-waste as we call them — in the trash will only add up to the piles of garbage in landfills, which in turn will not only harm the environment, but also humans who may come in contact with them.

E-waste, after all, is made up of different toxic and hazardous materials, making the process of recycling risky.

Thankfully, there are organizations like Globe, taking action. The telecom company has placed more than 100 e-waste bins in in different Globe stores and malls across the country, allowing people to easily dispose of their old mobile phones, chargers, CDs, and cable. 

Meanwhile the program also offers pick up services for bulky items like antennas, transmitters, washing machines, ovens and refrigerators.

According to Globe, collected e-waste will then be delivered to partner Treatment, Storage, and Disposal (TSD) facilities, namely Total Environment Solutions - Asset Material Management Philippines (TES-AMM) in Pasig City, and Maritrans Recycler, Inc. in Cebu for proper e-waste disposal and handling..

Their E-Waste Zero Program, formerly known as Project 1 Phone, was launched in 2014 and has since then collected more than 1.4 million kg of e-waste.

It also promotes e-waste recycling where collected old electronics can be turned to "new glass, plastic chairs, filament for 3d printing, and reuse the extracted alloys."

“Globe recognizes the importance of taking this extra step in ensuring e-wastes are disposed of properly and can't be harmful to the environment. We would like to enjoin our customers to help dispose of e-waste properly,” Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability Officer and SVP for Corporate Communications, said.

"We encourage more individuals and organizations to join us in this advocacy.  Let us all work together in keeping our planet safe from the harm posed by improper e-waste disposal."

According to a United Nations report in 2019, over 50 million tonnes of e-waste is being thrown away each year. — Kaela Malig/LA, GMA News