{"id":18672,"date":"2015-05-28T15:27:40","date_gmt":"2015-05-28T19:27:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress-367309-1145705.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=18672"},"modified":"2015-05-29T13:06:16","modified_gmt":"2015-05-29T17:06:16","slug":"the-modular-phone-could-mobile-device-redesign-reduce-electronic-waste","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/articles\/the-modular-phone-could-mobile-device-redesign-reduce-electronic-waste\/","title":{"rendered":"The Modular Phone: Could Mobile Device Redesign Reduce Electronic Waste?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"modular<\/a><\/p>\n

While cell phones and other mobile devices are a relatively small portion of the massive stream of electronic waste<\/a> we create, they still accounted for nearly 20,000 tons in 2010<\/a> (the last year for which numbers are available currently). And they also represent one the lowest recycling rates: while 40% of computers were recycled that year, only 11% of mobile devices made it to recyclers. Just over 17,000 tons of waste phones and tablets ended up in the landfill.<\/p>\n

That’s an environmental problem, as toxins can leach out of those old phones and into soil and groundwater. Furthermore, those cell phones in the landfill represent a huge waste of materials: according to the EPA<\/a>, “For every million cell phones we recycle, 35 thousand pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold, and 33 pounds of palladium can be recovered.” Consider that those tons of waste represent about 135 million units, and then do the math – that’s a lot of precious metal that could be recovered.<\/p>\n

So, what’s the answer? Get people to recycle their phones? Of course, that’s the ultimate goal. Increasing the time that people keep a phone? That would also help – most of us get a new device every couple of years. One idea that addresses all of these issues is the modular phone<\/p>\n

What is a Modular Phone?<\/h3>\n

A modular phone gives a user control over the elements his\/her phone contains. Currently, we buy a package from a manufacturer: they choose the processor, screen, camera, speakers, etc., etc. A modular phone allows you to choose what you want for these elements, and provides a container for them. Once those elements reach the end of their useful life, or if you want to replace it with something more powerful, you can do so… without getting rid of everything else. All you have to do is swap our modules.<\/p>\n

A modular phone allows a user to create a device that serves his\/her needs, so we’re more to hang onto it longer. And if we do decide to upgrade an element, we’re not creating as much waste. All of the projects underway also tend towards an open source model, so the potential for a wide range of options and availability are built into the concept.<\/p>\n

So, Where Can I Get One of These?<\/h3>\n

Right now, nowhere. But a number of modular phone concepts\/projects are in the works, and we could see such products on the market late in 2015. Among them:<\/p>\n

Phonebloks<\/a>:<\/strong> As far as I can tell, this is the original concept for the modular phone<\/a>. As you’ll learn in the video below, electronic waste management drove the idea from the beginning.<\/p>\n