E-cycle can be defined as the practice of reusing, donating or redistributing electronic items until the end of their life cycle, then recycling the items when they are no longer usable.E-cycling is generally practiced to reduce the amount of electronic components that are discarded when users purchase new components.
The USA Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has listed e-cycle as a new term that refers to the process of collecting, distributing, brokering, repairing or reusing used electronic components without discarding them until the expiry of their life cycle. The used electronic items or equipment are called electronic waste (e-waste). Items that can be e-cycled include the following:
In most cases, electronic items such as computers and mobile phones that are functional can be circulated to another person or organization. Other non-functioning electronic items can be repaired and resold or donated. With the advancements in technology, new electronic devices replace the existing ones, making them obsolete. Organizations have started investing in e-cyling facilities due to technology’s increasing rate of obsolescence. Discarding electronic devices is a serious threat to the environment because of the toxic substances involved in their components. The e-cycling process allows people to reduce, reuse and recycle obsolete electronic items. eBay has started an e-cycle initiative called eBay’s Rethink project to promote E-cycling. Organizations like Dell, IBM, Intel and Hewlett-Packard are also actively participating in the eBay’s Rethink project.
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