Discover how to put your old phones, computers, and televisions to good use and reduce wasted technology in Brighton and Hove.
The University of Sussex invites you to reduce technology waste bring any unwanted tech you have lying around at home to be repaired and reused. The ‘Tech-Takeback’ pop up shop is offering the chance for you to clear out your old technology to be upcycled for good causes.
The United Nations University Global E-Waste Monitor has estimated a staggering total of 50 million tonnes of technology being dumped by the end of 2018. Students, staff, and residents of the community are being asked to help reverse this wasteful trend.
Dr David Greenfield, co-founder of Tech-Takeback and managing director of SOENECS, said: “Tech-Takeback 4 coincides with one of the peak technology purchasing periods. But this can lead to residents storing their old tech in drawers and cupboards and forgetting about it or leaving it lying around unused as they don’t know how to erase their data properly. ”
The dates have been carefully selected in line with Black Friday (23 Nov) and Cyber Monday (26 Nov), where retailers offer discounts and deals to encourage consumer purchasing. So far, an astounding six tonnes of technology equipment has been donated from the previous pop-up events, including old PCs, tablets, laptops, hard drives, smartphones, memory cards, USBs, CDs and DVDs.
Dr Greenfield added: “By donating their unwanted tech to Tech-Takeback, residents can declutter and dispose of their tech safely, and at the same time support those less able to purchase new tech. Our priority is to give a second life to the old tech, giving charities the opportunity to redistribute it.”
Tech-Takeback works closely with Brighton and Hove City Council, data erasing experts – Erase My Data, SOENECS, and Freegle, delivering free goods to the community where they are needed most. Several organisations have been helped through donations of reused technology, such as the Sussex Homeless Support Charity, the Green Centre, The National Tech4Good Awards, and The Bevy Community Pub.
All technology equipment is safely and professionally erased of any data and information using a government compliant data-wiping service. This ensures items at the end of their life can be securely reused after the data wipe.
The fourth Tech-Takeback pop-up event will take place on Thursday 22 November between 10am-6pm and Friday 23 November 10am-5pm at The Students’ Union. The University of Sussex, Falmer House, Falmer, East Sussex, BN1 9QF.
