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E Waste

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Old Pixel Phones Take Center Stage in Eco-Friendly School Clusters
technology2 hours ago

Old Pixel Phones Take Center Stage in Eco-Friendly School Clusters

Researchers from the University of San Diego and Google are repurposing discarded Pixel phones into a low-carbon computing cluster for schools, stripping devices to the motherboard to create a general-purpose platform. A 20-board setup can run education apps for about 75 students, with a broader goal of 2,000 phones powering hundreds of classes; a fall launch is planned. Tests suggest aging Pixel hardware, including the 2023 Pixel Fold, can rival modern servers in single-threaded performance, potentially offering affordable, scalable computing while reducing e-waste.

via Engadget|
#cluster-computing#data-center#e-waste
Don’t Trash It: Free, Easy Ways to Recycle Old Computers and Printers
technology16 days ago

Don’t Trash It: Free, Easy Ways to Recycle Old Computers and Printers

Old laptops, desktops, and printers can be disposed of for free or cheaply via retailer take-back programs at places like Best Buy, Staples, and Office Depot (with varying limits and some paid mail-in options). Apple offers free recycling only with a qualifying purchase, while Gazelle and other services provide mail-in recycling. Before recycling, perform a data wipe (factory reset or drive-scrubbing tool) to protect your privacy, and if you prefer local centers, use Earth911 or the Consumer Technology Association’s Greener Gadgets locator to find nearby options.

via CNET|
#data-privacy#e-waste#electronics-recycling
E-Waste to Gamer Rig: The BC250 Budget Steam Machine
hardware1 month ago

E-Waste to Gamer Rig: The BC250 Budget Steam Machine

An enthusiast repurposes a discarded ASRock BC250 board—an RDNA2-based, crypto-mining unit resembling a neutered PS5—into a budget, Steam Machine–style PC by flashing a new BIOS, reworking cooling, and running Linux; with community tweaks to unlock up to 40 compute units, it achieves roughly GTX 1060 Ti–level performance at 1080p, illustrating open-hardware ingenuity despite setup complexity and higher power use compared with Valve’s Steam Machine.

via Aftermath|
#bc250#e-waste#hardware
Drawer Dilemma: Why We Keep Old Gadgets and How Smarter Recycling Info Could Change That
environment1 month ago

Drawer Dilemma: Why We Keep Old Gadgets and How Smarter Recycling Info Could Change That

A survey of 4,000 Americans finds that most people store their old devices in drawers (about 39%), with only around 10% recycled or resold and 9% discarded. Data-security worries and simply not knowing where to recycle drive this hoarding, but clearer guidance, easier recycling/resale options, and nudges could nudge people toward giving devices a second life (examples include Best Buy for recycling and services like Back Market and Gazelle for resale).

via ZME Science|
#consumerbehavior#datasecurity#e-waste
Stuck in the Drawer: The surprising reasons we keep old gadgets and how to recycle them
environment-energy1 month ago

Stuck in the Drawer: The surprising reasons we keep old gadgets and how to recycle them

A NSF-backed study of 4,000 Americans finds that the most common fate for finished devices is storage in a drawer (about 39%), not recycling or resale; data-security fears and not knowing where to recycle drive hoarding. The research shows recycling and reselling are feasible options, emphasizes wiping data and removing accounts before disposal, and highlights information nudges to help people give old electronics a second life.

via The Conversation|
#consumer-behavior#data-security#e-waste
Repurposed Pixel Phones Power a Budget-Friendly, High-Efficiency Data Center
technology1 month ago

Repurposed Pixel Phones Power a Budget-Friendly, High-Efficiency Data Center

UCSD researchers, with Google, are turning retired Pixel phones into standalone compute nodes by stripping hardware and running Linux with orchestration (Kubernetes); in SPEC benchmarks, single cores on older Pixels outperform some server configurations, and 25–50 phones can match a dual-socket server’s output, with a 20-phone cluster already supporting classes for more than 75 students. The project envisions scaling to about 2,000 phones for hundreds of classes, offering a cheaper, lower-carbon alternative to cloud infrastructure—though not suited to hyperscale workloads due to hardware heterogeneity and management complexity.

via TechSpot|
#data-center#distributed-computing#e-waste
Resist the upgrade: why holding onto your old phone helps your wallet and the planet
technology3 months ago

Resist the upgrade: why holding onto your old phone helps your wallet and the planet

Holding onto an older smartphone can save money and reduce environmental harm: manufacturing new phones uses scarce materials and drives most device emissions, with cobalt mining in Congo linked to harsh working conditions; e-waste remains high and recycling rates are low. By maximizing a device’s life, you cut costs, reduce your carbon footprint, and even enjoy less screen time in daily life, while tech giants remain financially robust even with slower upgrade cycles.

via Mashable|
#consumer-tech#e-waste#environment
Amazon ends updates for legacy Kindles, prompting upgrades and sparking e-waste concerns
technology3 months ago

Amazon ends updates for legacy Kindles, prompting upgrades and sparking e-waste concerns

Amazon will stop updating Kindle and Kindle Fire devices released in 2012 and earlier from May 20, 2026, cutting off access to new content purchases and updates for about two million devices, though users can still read downloaded ebooks and access their libraries on mobile or desktop apps; the company is offering discounts to upgrade, while critics warn the move could generate e-waste and 'soft-bricking' otherwise functioning devices.

via The Guardian|
#amazon#e-waste#kindle
Amazon Ends Updates on 2012-era Kindles, Sparking User Backlash
technology3 months ago

Amazon Ends Updates on 2012-era Kindles, Sparking User Backlash

Amazon will discontinue software support for Kindle and Kindle Fire devices released in 2012 and earlier starting May 20, 2026, preventing purchases, borrowing or downloading new content on those models. Owners can still read already downloaded books and use their Kindle libraries, but some devices may become unusable after a factory reset; Amazon says this move reflects aging hardware and security needs, while critics warn it amounts to deliberate obsolescence and risk contributing to e-waste, despite discounts to upgrade.

via BBC|
#amazon#discontinuation#e-waste
Dolphins’ brains show stubborn screen chemicals from e-waste, study finds
environment5 months ago

Dolphins’ brains show stubborn screen chemicals from e-waste, study finds

A 14-year study detects 62 liquid crystal monomers—used in LCD screens—in tissues of endangered Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins and finless porpoises in the South China Sea, with the chemicals found in blubber and even brains, capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier and altering genes related to DNA repair and cell division; contamination tracking mirrors the rise and fall of LC monomer use as LEDs replaced older screens, underscoring the need for longer-lasting electronics, certified e-waste recycling, and stricter regulation to prevent potential human health impacts via seafood and water.

via The Guardian|
#bioaccumulation#dolphins#e-waste
Apple’s iPhone Pocket triggers ridicule and a sustainability debate
technology6 months ago

Apple’s iPhone Pocket triggers ridicule and a sustainability debate

Apple unveiled a designer pocket accessory called the iPhone Pocket, but online reaction labeled it unnecessary and wasteful, sparking a broader debate about consumerism and environmental impact. Critics on Reddit and elsewhere argued the item promotes needless purchasing despite sustainability pledges, with discussions suggesting alternatives like repair, thrift, or simply reducing consumption.

via Yahoo|
#apple#consumerism#e-waste