The gaming industry may have revolutionised entertainment, but it has also generated high volumes of electronic waste. With more than 60 million metric tons of e-waste[1] generated globally every year, there is a critical need to focus on smart solutions to the e-waste problem – and gaming is often overlooked as a significant contributor.
Wiljahne “Wilj” Smith, one of Bravado Gaming’s Counterstrike 2 players, says: “Gamers can’t get enough of the awesome tech offered by gaming, from super-fast computers to cool game consoles and virtual reality gadgets. The problem is that when we keep upgrading to the latest and greatest devices, it creates a lot of e-waste and old gaming kit ends up in landfills – and that’s not good for the environment.”
Bravado Gaming is a premier Middle East and Africa (MEA) multi-gaming organisation and gaming lifestyle brand located in South Africa, Egypt, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. It serves as home to some of the best local and international competitive gamers while simultaneously building a gaming lifestyle brand and culture. Bravado Gaming works with Dell Technologies, Intel and Alienware as ambassadors and primary gaming partners in the MEA region.
As with other consumer electronics, gaming consoles contain a long list of components such as gold, copper, lithium, cobalt, zinc, cadmium, and lead. Extracting and processing these components releases hazardous chemicals, such as arsenic and mercury, which can damage ecosystems. Beyond that, gaming consoles are made with large volumes of plastic. The devices often wind up in landfills, and then infiltrate groundwater systems and pollute surrounding wildlife.
There are solutions available. Wiljahne “Wilj” Smith points to the partnership between Dell and the E-Waste Recycling Authority (ERA), which has seen both parties unite to help South Africans understand the e-waste problem, and to encourage people to recycle their e-waste in an ethical, sustainable way.
ERA, a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) dedicated to the improvement of e-waste recycling in South Africa and a leader in e-waste management, has a comprehensive list of e-waste recycling drop-off points around the country, making it easy for gamers to responsibly dispose of their old gaming devices. Ashley du Plooy, Chief Executive Officer at ERA, says e-waste is virtually 100% recyclable. “If it is disposed of correctly, it doesn’t harm the environment and can be re-used in new products,” he says.
Both Dell and ERA are committed to sustainability. Dell is strongly focused on addressing climate change and minimising environmental impact with ambitious net zero goals and innovative, sustainable technologies and solutions. It also addresses the full lifecycle – from increasing the use of recycled materials and minerals in products to making devices easier to repair and responsibly recycle.
[1] https://unitar.org/about/news-stories/press/global-e-waste-monitor-2024-electronic-waste-rising-five-times-faster-documented-e-waste-recycling
