GEMS Education has teamed up with Fixerman, the Dubai-based device repair specialists, to launch the largest school electronic waste (e-waste) campaign in the UAE.
The campaign aims to reduce the amount of broken or unwanted devices, including mobile phones, tablets and laptops, that end up in landfill sites. When electronic devices are dumped in landfills, toxic substances like lead and mercury can leak into the soil and water system.
On average, a UAE resident produces 17.2 kilogrammes of e-waste every year, driven by an increasing dependence on technology, with devices continuously and frequently upgraded for newer models. As a result, many households have multiple unused or defective devices at home that risk not being disposed of properly or safely.
According to the UN’s Global E-Waste Monitor 2020, a record 53.6 million metric tonnes (Mt) of electronic waste was generated worldwide in 2019. That is the equivalent weight of 350 cruise ships’ worth of electronics, and this amount is set to rise to 74 Mt by 2030.
