A new approach for dealing with discarded power cords.
Long description
When electrical appliances don’t work anymore, mostly just one of its many parts is broken. In the current e-waste model, all the other functioning components are simply discarded- even if they are still functioning. Reusing electrical components where possible would be a more circular approach.
External power cords are a promising example of such a component. They are highly standardised and about 90% of them still retain their function at time of disposal. Currently, however, cables are simply stripped of their valuable copper core while the so hard-to-recycle plastic insulation and plugs are discarded through landfilling and incineration.
Our concept proposes workstations equipped with tools to test, certify and re-package used power cords so that these can be reintroduced into the market. These workstations would be placed at local e-waste recyclers, which is the natural destination of discarded electrical appliances.
The simple measure could save 380,000 tonnes of plastic insulation a year from landfill, chemical dissolution, or incineration. At the same time, it would prevent the production of an equal amount of new identical power cords.
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