Eco-friendly laptop charger standard adopted
Wednesday, October 26, 2016 - 09:23:00
Anyone who has regularly splashed out on gadgets like smartphones and laptops over the years will know that most new devices come with a charging cable and plug adapter, to allow their internal batteries to be powered up after long periods of use.
This is problematic because if the charging cables are not cross-compatible, then once the device is no longer used the cable is also rendered redundant. Alternatively, if the cable is compatible with multiple devices, yet manufacturers keep bundling smartphones with additional chargers, the same e-waste issue arises.
This was solved to a degree in the mobile market when micro USB was adopted as the standard by a range of manufacturers several years ago, with only Apple persisting in using its own bespoke charger inputs, which are at least consistent across products like the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.
The same cannot be said of laptops, which tend to each use a very different type of charger. But the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has this month confirmed that it has given the go-ahead to an international standard charger design for portable PCs, which should slash the e-waste generated by this industry.
ITU spokesperson, Houlin Zhao, said that the organisation was aiming to make the production and use of laptops more sustainable going forwards. And with the annual production of chargers hitting a million tonnes, any act which can reduce waste will make a major impact.
People who sell their old mobile phones may have the option to send in their unwanted chargers along with their outdated handsets, but not all recyclers will accept this type of accessory. Local recycling facilities made available by councils in the UK may allow old chargers, plugs, cords and other types of electronics to be disposed of safely and sustainably, so checking official websites will help those who want to do their bit for the environment.
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