Landfills are dumped with waste every day and it is very important to decrease the load chucked on these waste grounds. One very hazardous type of waste thrown out of our home is electronic devices and components. Did you know that we discard more than 20 million tonnes of e-waste every year? Not only is this waste non-degradable, but it is also highly toxic. In fact, about two-thirds of our toxic waste is e-waste. It contains many harmful chemicals that leach into the earth and pollute the land as well as water.
Therefore, in order to save our planet and ourselves, we should put this waste to alternate uses. If you have a creative bent to your brain, it isn’t that hard to utilize circuit boards, monitors, bulbs, chips, computer parts, etc. You can easily assemble them together and turn them into something new. Here is a list of a few such fine-looking arts pieces created.
10 – Best of Artwork made from e-waste
1. Steven Rodrig electrical circuits’art
As their newer versions make way into the market, old PCBs get thrown out of our homes. Recycling them by incorporating the machinery in sculptures is a brilliant idea. These sculptures created by Cuban artist Steven Rodrig have a mechanical seem and are dubbed as a Printed Circuit Board Media Mixed Insects and bugs are a favorite with the artist; he also makes sculpture shaped like flowers, shoes, and cityscapes.
2. Gabriel Dishaw e-waste art
A neat and graphic pair of sneakers made out of e-waste is ingenious. Computer chips, bolts, wire and circuit boards are used in their make. The shoes are given eye-catching colors by the American artist, also accents and hues on the frontage are attention-grabbing. Though they cannot be worn, displaying them in rustic rooms, garages, backyards or garden pathways is a good idea. They will look cute and adorable sitting in a corner.
3. Citizen Cube made from e-waste
A robotic looking cubed display, you can easily see all the electric components, chips and circuit boards embedded on this one. On top of the cube are two black colored hands that are in an action to type out on the keyboard set in front of them. All artwork created by Brenda Guyton is inspired from artificial intelligence and biological adaptations.
4. Recycled Circuit Board toilet
Circuit boards assembled in shape of a pot is loathsome, but the piece might have fans in adolescents, tech geeks and rebels. The sculpture is rightly called the âRoyal Data Thrown. It has been created by Steven Rodrig from Jersey, who is a computer and electronics repairman and is known for his PCB creations. Used for discarding data waste, this sculpture has a life size composition.
5. Circuit Board Robot
A whole robot made from circuit board chips. Mike Schropp is the creator of this magnificent piece and the first one was created by old electronics borrowed from friends and neighbors. An ingenious idea was to use an old camera lens for the eyes of the robot. The basic framework of the robot was made with laptops, computers and monitors. Other gadgets used to build it are processors, floppy drives and modems.
6. PC parts Shoes
Gabriel Dishaw has been fascinated with art made out of junk and believes that a lot of harm can be avoided if you use electronic waste to create your artwork. He has put together a shoe from PC parts, the shoe has a shiny metallic finish. These Junk Art sneaker sculptures made by him are mind boggling. They are made from mother boards, typewriter keys, heat sinks, ram chips and other electronic parts thrown away.
7. HA Schult made Sculpture
Another artist who prides on reusing trash in his work is HA Schult. Trash people created by him is a sculpture of one thousand people made from trash such as electronic waste and crushed cans. He has also made the Beach Garbage Hotel in Madrid from trash found on beaches to highlight the large amount of trash generated by tourism.
8. Old vinyl records art
Vinyl records end up in landfills, but an innovative idea by JAXPAC or Jacksonville Public Art Commission has instead put them to use to create artwork. Sculptures of reptilian creatures and aquatic animals are lined on the streets of Jackson. The prime materials used to make these are vinyl records and cardboard.
9. Coffee table made from e-waste
Use up your electronic waste to put together a coffee table. This table has a very technetronic look and the colors of green, brown and black will blend with almost any interior. The base of the table is put together with circuit boards, electronic components, disks, etc. and glass has been fitted on the top for a flat surface that is easy to use. A product from BRC designs, it is called the Binary Low Table.
10. Haribaabu Naatesam e-waste art
These sculptures of autorickshaws, birds, shoes, crabs look colorful and alluring. One would never think that they are made from junk. But when you look closely; the video tapes, light bulbs, motherboards, floppy discs, walkmans, floppy disks, CD drivers and cellphones used to make them are seen clearly. This innovative work is the creation of Haribaabu Naatesam.
Some things you can do to reduce the Amount of e-Waste You Generate
The current geeky generation is fond of new gadgets and most of them adopt the use and throw policy. But this is resulting in generation of a large amount of e-waste. More and more energy is utilized from the earth for manufacturing new electronic goods. We have to stop this somewhere in order to take control of the situation before it goes out of hand.
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Try using old devices as long as you can
One of the reasons for buying new electronic goods like laptops and PC’s is that the old ones do not have certain features and applications. Therefore the first one must try and find out if the old laptop or gadget can be upgraded.Evaluate the situation and first consider the different options available besides buying a brand new product.
Most electronic goods can be upgraded and software can be added easily. In such cases, you do not need to dump your old gadget and buy new electronic goods. Try to upgrade and use the old devices for as long as you can. If for any reason the device stops working then try to get it repaired. At times just by replacing a part or simple servicing of your gadget is all that is required.
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Donate to the needy or the sell the goods
A number of online stores sell used electronic goods. This way a person who needs a gadget, but has less budget can get one of their choices and even you can get some money. You can also donate it to a needy person like a poor student who needsmake sure to delete all your existing data from it.
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Recycling
If upgrading or repairing or selling or donation is not working out, then you need to consider the option of recycling. Although you can even recycle them at home, there are also some electronic manufacturers who are willing to accept electronic goods for recycling. There are several products like computers in which a large number of parts can be easily recycled. When you opt for recycling of electronic goods, you are helping in reducing the pollution which is involved in the manufacture of new electronic stuff. This method also helps in reducing the use of energy and natural resources which goes into making new electronic goods. Find out about local electronic stores who will accept used electronic goods.
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Opt for greener products
If you have to buy new electronic goods, then always look out for greener and environment friendly products. These days many manufacturers are manufacturing green electronic goods. These green products have less toxic substances and hence have a lesser negative impact on the environment. These goods are energy efficient and make use of recycled materials in manufacturing. They have less packaging. These products can be upgraded easily and hence it is possible to use then for a longer time.
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Education and awareness
Remember that you have some duty towards the society and in protecting the environment from the hazards of e-waste. Therefore, it is your duty to not just reduce the amount of e-waste generation, but also make more and more people aware about the need of preventing the generation of e-waste. Educate your family, friends and neighbours. Don’t just stop at that. Try to spread the word in the society and community on the whole through public awareness programmes.
Instead of just adding to the heaps of electronic waste, just try and find out different ways by which you can reduce the amount of e-waste. Keep in mind that you have different options like repairing,upgrading,donation,recycling etc which can help in reducing the e-waste a big way.
