What to do with unused technology?

There is little doubt that we’re incredibly lucky to be living in an age of unparalleled technological advancement. Over the last fifty years, mankind’s understanding of the universe around us and our ability to harness these forces and energy has grown exponentially. All of which has led to a transformation in the world. Our modern lives are enhanced by the incredible capabilities of the internet, laptops, smart phones and many other devices that make our lives easier.

However, this incredible freedom and privilege also comes with its consequences. The natural resources needed to develop this technology have to come from somewhere and that relies on good old-fashioned activities such as mining and trading. The fact that technology improves at such a rate that devices are frequently out of date within months rather than years means there are drawers and cupboards across the UK filled with obsolete or unwanted gadgets. Just think how many mobile phones you have been through since you got your first one. Each one of those contains precious materials and minerals that have to be sourced from somewhere, frequently at great cost.

Identifying a solution

So, the question remains, what do we do with all this unwanted or unused technology? The obvious answer is to recycle. If the modern world is to survive then we need to embrace recycling to a greater extent than we currently do. There are designated places where you can recycle mobile phones and other electronic goods. They can be broken down and their constituent parts reused in either new phones or for other new technologies. You have to remember that while technology may develop, the physical materials used for this purpose remain the same each time. Given that there is only a finite amount of these materials in existence then we need to be careful with them.

Of course, there are many ways to skin a cat. Recycling doesn’t just have to be about dropping your old technology in a recycling bin somewhere and forgetting about it. After all, you paid good money for that item, why should you just give it a way at the end of its life? Why not try to capitalise and reclaim some of your original outlay? As they say, one man’s rubbish is another man’s treasure. Not that much of this technology is rubbish, but if it’s just sitting there in a draw or cupboard then it might as well be.

Luckily, these days it seems like people are catching on to the fact that their unwanted technology may be wanted by someone else. There are places you can sell PSP gaming units and mobile phones and make a little something to put towards some new technology. Now that makes good technological sense.