Mr Iqbal - HL P3 2026

Challenge Overview

What is the e-waste problem?

E-waste includes discarded digital devices such as desktop computers, laptops, and mobile phones. The problem is growing because digital devices are replaced quickly, and valuable materials are wasted while toxic substances pollute the environment.

Why digital devices create waste

Devices have short lifecycles, and modern organizations often replace laptops and phones after only three to five years to meet performance and security needs. Furthermore, poor repairability and software obsolescence make extending device lifetimes difficult.

Why reuse and recycling matter

Both offer an alternative to unsafe disposal. Reuse extends a device's life, helping more people get access while delaying waste. When a device can no longer be used safely, recycling recovers valuable materials like copper and gold, avoiding hazardous landfill dumping.

Key facts

Organizations often replace devices after 3-5 years.
Only about 25% are reused or recycled.
Global e-waste reached 62 billion kg in 2022.
Only 22.3% was formally collected and recycled.

Intervention 1: Reuse

Loading Intervention 1 content...

Definition

Reuse means taking an existing digital device or its components and using them again, either for the same purpose or a new purpose. It extends device life, reduces waste, and enhances digital access.

Exam judgment

Reuse is stronger than recycling when devices are still safe and useful. It reduces waste before it happens and can improve digital access. However, it is weak if it passes poor-quality devices to poorer users or LEDCs.

Stakeholder evaluation

Businesses and organizations ▾

Equity

Pros:

Helps devices reach people who need them.
Reduces waste.

Cons:

May pass low-quality devices to others.

Acceptability

Pros:

Supports CSR.
Improves public opinion.

Cons:

Data privacy risks if wiping is weak.

Cost

Pros:

May reduce disposal costs.

Cons:

Certified data wiping costs money.

Feasibility

Pros:

Practical; refurbishers exist.

Cons:

Hard to find reliable partners; some devices locked.

Innovation

Pros:

Supports circular economy models.

Cons:

Not a disruptive change if new devices still bought often.

Ethics

Pros:

Reduces waste and helps access.

Cons:

Unethical if devices are near failure or for "greenwashing".

Refurbishment companies ▾

Equity

Pros:

Bridge between wealthy orgs and recipients.

Cons:

Poorer quality shops may sell unreliable devices.

Acceptability

Pros:

Certified refurbishing builds trust.

Cons:

Businesses fear data leaks; recipients fear defects.

Cost

Pros:

Creates income and viable repair systems.

Cons:

Parts, labor, and certified wiping are expensive.

Digital device manufacturers ▾

Equity

Pros:

Device durability improves use for low-income buyers.

Cons:

Short support cycles disadvantage poorest users.

Cost

Pros:

Can base new business models on leasing or repair.

Cons:

Fewer replacement sales may reduce profits.

Ethics

Pros:

Ethical duty to provide updates and fixable devices.

Cons:

Planned obsolescence is ethically weak.

Recycling companies ▾

Acceptability

Pros:

Aligns with the waste hierarchy (reuse before recycling).

Cons:

Worry about losing material supply chains to informal trade.

Governments ▾

Feasibility

Pros:

Can mandate reuse via public procurement.

Cons:

Tracking is hard; reused vs waste goods get mixed at borders.

Ethics

Pros:

Protects populations from hazardous dumping.

Cons:

Weak laws leave informal workers exposed.

Recipients (families, schools) ▾

Equity

Pros:

Access to devices bridges the digital divide.

Cons:

A "second-level" divide forms where software cannot run.

Cost

Pros:

Low or free acquisition costs.

Cons:

Hidden costs for later repairs, charging, or final disposal.

LEDCs (Less economically developed countries) ▾

Risk vs Reward

Pros:

Provides tech access and repair jobs.

Cons:

Strong risk of becoming an end-of-life dumping ground with toxic environmental outcomes.

Intervention 2: Recycling

Loading Intervention 2 content...

Definition

Recycling means breaking down a digital device into raw materials such as metals, plastics and glass to create new products. It takes place after a device has already become waste.

Exam judgment

Recycling is necessary but limited. It is best for devices that are truly at end-of-life. It reduces pollution and recovers materials, but it does not solve overconsumption or short product lifecycles.

Stakeholder evaluation

Businesses and organizations ▾

Equity

Pros:

Businesses pay for proper disposal rather than shifting burden.

Cons:

Unfair if cheapest informal/unverified recyclers are used.

Acceptability

Pros:

Solves the "dead device" problem responsibly.

Cons:

Criticized if reusable devices are wrongly destroyed.

Cost

Pros:

Recovers valuable materials (gold, copper).

Cons:

Certified processing with data destruction is expensive.

Refurbishment companies ▾

Equity

Pros:

Provides safe route for unrepairable devices.

Cons:

Reduces devices available for refurbishment if destroyed early.

Digital device manufacturers ▾

Innovation

Pros:

Can use recycled materials array and circular models.

Cons:

Less innovative than right-to-repair solutions.

Cost

Pros:

Offsets raw material supply dependencies.

Cons:

Producer responsibility take-back schemes add cost.

Recycling companies ▾

Ethics

Pros:

Protects workers and cuts illegal tech dumping.

Cons:

Unethical if hidden toxic waste is still exported.

Feasibility

Pros:

Well established large-volume processing.

Cons:

Hard to process glued batteries and mixed materials.

LEDCs (Less economically developed countries) ▾

Equity

Pros:

Formalizing systems stops toxic processing, protecting health.

Cons:

Unfair shifting of health hazards to vulnerable communities with less power.

Recommendations for Future Action

Loading future action content...

Compare Reuse and Recycling

Which is stronger? ▾

Reuse is stronger strategically as it prevents waste entirely while maintaining the functionality of the device for longer. Recycling treats the symptoms once the device is dead.

Which stakeholders benefit? ▾

Recipients, charities, and small businesses benefit massively from reuse. Official recycling centers and metal processors benefit heavily from recycling.

Which stakeholders remain at risk? ▾

LEDCs and informal waste workers remain exposed to greenwashing if uncertified refurbishers dump low-quality goods or uncertified recyclers export toxic materials illegally.

Reuse is better before waste is created.
Recycling is better after a device has reached true end-of-life.
The strongest system is reuse first, recycling second.

Glossary

Basel Convention ▾

An international agreement that controls the movement of hazardous waste between countries.

Circular economy ▾

An approach where products and materials are kept in use for as long as possible through repair, reuse, refurbishment and recycling.

Data sanitization ▾

Securely removing data from a device so that sensitive information cannot be recovered.

E-waste ▾

Electronic waste. Discarded digital devices and equipment holding toxic and valuable materials.

Extended producer responsibility ▾

A policy approach shifting disposal accountability back onto device manufacturers.

Recycling ▾

Breaking down a device into raw materials such as metals, plastics and glass so they can be used again.

Reuse ▾

Using a device or its components again, either for the same purpose or a new one.

E-Waste, Reuse and Recycling

Challenge Overview

What is the e-waste problem?

Why digital devices create waste

Why reuse and recycling matter

Key facts

Intervention 1: Reuse

Definition

Exam judgment

Stakeholder evaluation

Equity

Acceptability

Cost

Feasibility

Innovation

Ethics

Equity

Acceptability

Cost

Equity

Cost

Ethics

Acceptability

Feasibility

Ethics

Equity

Cost

Risk vs Reward

Intervention 2: Recycling

Definition

Exam judgment

Stakeholder evaluation

Equity

Acceptability

Cost

Equity

Innovation

Cost

Ethics

Feasibility

Equity

Recommendations for Future Action

Compare Reuse and Recycling

Glossary