> I don't service my devices through the telcos. I use prepaid plans and phones.
That's on you.
> Many people do. That's why department stores sell them. Because there's a customer base that needs them.
Then make the department store responsible for offering recycling points. Make them responsible.
> I sincerely doubt many 40 dollar off the shelf phones are being recycled.
And that is a problem.
> Many people also likely find it stupid to pay someone to change a battery when we can do it ourselves.
Sure. Given the amount of small businesses that offer phone repair, many don't for a variety of reasons too. My own; keeping the manufacturer responsible for the rare earth materials, and if they fuck up the repair, they are liable. I fuck it up, I'm on my own.
> I think a more reasonable compromise here is that we can probably both agree that recycling in general needs massive improvements. i.e. make it incredibly easier for people to recycle or remove the choice from the consumer completely.
I agree wholeheartedly. To answer your postscript; being in a drawer unused is as bad as being in a landfill because there are materials and components that could be salvaged and reused/recycled. By not recycling them or reusing the device, new materials have to mined and processed. Th only thing you can say is that potentially harmful materials are leaching out, but as discussed, that is only part of the picture. The degree to it being marginally better being in a drawer is negligible.
> And if small amounts add up then arguably devices+batteries in landfill are worse than just battery.
Neither is good. Arguably, losing your hearing is better than losing your sight. The better option is losing neither.
"Then make the department store responsible for offering recycling points. Make them responsible."
Yeah I agree. More recycling for everything. I know that some hardware stores let you drop off old dead batteries but not typically lithium based iirc.
Some groceries stores also have kiosks that pay for old phones, easily could be adapted for batteries as well.
I think personally letting people chuck everything into one bin and sort it at the collection site is a pathway to eliminate a lot of waste and eliminates arguing over which is often more recycled, a phone or a battery.
That's on you.
> Many people do. That's why department stores sell them. Because there's a customer base that needs them.
Then make the department store responsible for offering recycling points. Make them responsible.
> I sincerely doubt many 40 dollar off the shelf phones are being recycled.
And that is a problem.
> Many people also likely find it stupid to pay someone to change a battery when we can do it ourselves.
Sure. Given the amount of small businesses that offer phone repair, many don't for a variety of reasons too. My own; keeping the manufacturer responsible for the rare earth materials, and if they fuck up the repair, they are liable. I fuck it up, I'm on my own.
> I think a more reasonable compromise here is that we can probably both agree that recycling in general needs massive improvements. i.e. make it incredibly easier for people to recycle or remove the choice from the consumer completely.
I agree wholeheartedly. To answer your postscript; being in a drawer unused is as bad as being in a landfill because there are materials and components that could be salvaged and reused/recycled. By not recycling them or reusing the device, new materials have to mined and processed. Th only thing you can say is that potentially harmful materials are leaching out, but as discussed, that is only part of the picture. The degree to it being marginally better being in a drawer is negligible.
> And if small amounts add up then arguably devices+batteries in landfill are worse than just battery.
Neither is good. Arguably, losing your hearing is better than losing your sight. The better option is losing neither.