Excessive amount of users

With the fast growth of electronic industry which includes smart phones, computers, and home appliances, governments of some nations took a huge step to restrict the waste from all these products to end up in a landfill, as it may impose many further problems such as pollution and health.

United Nations reported that the US alone produces about 6.3 million tons, or 14% of the world’s electronic waste. In the past, these nations would transport their e-waste to the developing nations. However, with this surge, countries like Vietnam and Thailand had to put a stricter regulation.

Turning in your e-waste to save earth

Components in every electronic product are made of various materials which, once recycled, can be used again for entirely new products. For instance, mobile phone contains precious materials such as platinum that can be recycled into component plating and palladium that is essential for fuel cells. There are even parts that can be wholly reused, such as aerials, battery connectors, PCBs, and connectors.

Gaming consoles, too, can be recycled for a wide range of usage. Take the steel for example, it can easily be made into new computer casings, car parts, and beams.

In most drop-off locations, they pay you with a considerably good amount of money for turning in your unwanted e-waste. If you find yourself not the ‘go-green’ type of person, just imagine doing this initiative as part of reselling your older stuff.

Extracting gold from e-waste

It is estimated that each computer consists of over $10 worth of gold depending on the current market price, and the gold can be, then, moulded into any shape and used for the next electronic products.

In the past, the extraction of gold from electronic components were deemed as harmful for environment. Being one of the least reactive chemical elements, gold can be difficult to dissolve. Traditionally, sodium cyanide was used for the extraction. However, in 2016, Professor Stephen Foley and his team from University of Saskatchewan discovered a new method of gold extraction which he explained as – simple, cheap, and environmentally benign solution.

The discovery suggested that gold can be effectively and efficiently dissolved using acetic acid, which is combined with tiny amounts of an oxidant and another acid. It strips out gold from circuits in about 10 seconds.

Be a considerate electronic user

The way how we should look at this matter, is not just on the action needed, but also the idea that not everything you own should not be thrown away, especially when the thing is limited to be obtained in the future. It is the awareness in one’s self that will determine the success of the cause.

Source:

(i) Ossola. A. “Where Do Recycled Electronics Go?” Popular Science.23 December 2014. <https://www.popsci.com/where-do-recycled-electronics-go/>

(ii) Great Lake Electronics Corporation. “Benefits of E-Waste Recycling: Top Reasons Why Recycling Remains the Best to Solve E-Waste.” <https://www.ewaste1.com/benefits-of-e-waste-recycling/>

(iii) Recycle Now. “How are electrical items recycle?” <https://www.recyclenow.com/recycling-knowledge/how-is-it-recycled/electricals>

(iv) University of Saskatchewan. “Turning electronic waste into gold.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 28 January 2016. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160128122901.htm>

To ease down that fear, you might want to start learning a thing or two about online shopping hacks (worry not, it has nothing to do with computer coding).

1. Utilize the live chat to the max

The chat function is there is to reduce the barrier between shopper and seller. Since online shopping is done with zero human contact (hence the name), shoppers are given with options to further understand about the product and the company selling it. On some occasions, some sellers would even give out free gifts for those who chat with them.

2. Follow the sellers you love

Platforms such as Lazada gives you the option to follow sellers like how you can subscribe to Youtube channels. Any updates issued by them would either be prompted into your email or phone’s notification.

These updates include flash sales, vouchers, freebies etc. Basically, anything that will benefit you as a frequent shopper. You may try that function with our Lazada and Shopee official stores.

3. Pay close attention to some influencers

If you are not much of a fan to vloggers or any online celebrities out there, do it for the discounts. It is in their marketing strategies to give out freebies or discount codes. Most of the time, brands would announce when they are collaborating with any prominent influencers.

4. Find out what vouchers are currently available

Some shoppers, especially the non-frequent ones, do not bother to explore around that application before checking out their carts. Some deals are well-hidden. It could be because of UI settings, or simply an encouragement for you to look around more.

If you are lucky enough, you may come across with an expected free-shipping voucher. Sound small, doesn’t it? But being able to take off that RM6 for every item you purchased, that, my friend, is a sight of paradise.

5. Always take a stroll down the review section

As a shopper, there is no better sight than seeing an honest review. You would be surprise on the amount of information you can get from there.

Online shopping platforms do not simply allow people review unless the items they bought has been delivered to their doorsteps. Take your time and read up the comments. There are even photos uploaded by them.

If a workplace practices a culture of under-appreciating or unnecessary politics, it may undoubtedly create more of this ‘blue’ emotion, especially on Monday when people have just gotten back from a relaxing trip or wonderful family gathering. It is, as if, stepping into Dante’s circles of hell when you just experienced heaven.

Whether you are an employee or an employer, fighting this feeling may seem hard, but it is not impossible. Imagine yourself as child whom anticipating for first day of school. It might help you to understand these following steps.

1. Have enough sleep

Simplest advice, yet the hardest to abide. As an adult, having a social life is quite common, and it is even necessary for some people. However, keep in mind that even though that Sunday night plan seems so tempting, you might want to ponder on the fact that you need to wake up early for work the next.

Try to tell yourself the basic concept – sleeping gives you energy, you need energy for work, work gives you money, and money gives you the opportunity to plan a good weekend getaway.

It is always the start of the domino that you need to work hard on, and the rest will follow.

2. Dress for success

Remember that night before the school starts. You packed your backpack perfectly and went through timetable. But, ultimately, your main concern was what in your closet. You starred into it and you asked yourself, “which of these outfits will make me stand out from the rest of the kids?”

Try doing that, even though you are an adult now.

For some people, good clothing will bring the best out of them. Therefore, saving your best piece of outfit for Monday may change your negative thoughts towards your job.

Another thing – go ahead and flaunt that overly confident smile of yours. Be proud!

3. Make someone else happy

Karma is always one of the best things the universe could offer. Of course, it depends on which kind of karma.

A good one is like an excessively wrapped birthday present with disproportionate ribbons. It looks redundant, but it changes how you feel the moment you accept it.

The idea is the same with treating others with kindness. The moment you make someone’s day happier, even by the slightest, it will indeed set a different tone to the start of your week.

4. Have a post-work plan

“Which restaurant should I take my date to?” or “which bar should I meet my friends tonight?”

Get into thinking with questions like this. Allow yourself to anticipate that wonder plan, although it is not weekend.

You are not a working machine that is there to produce whatever that is told. You are a human. There is only certain amount of energy that you can spend within a day. If you spend most of them only at work, what is there left for yourself?

But how about the kitchen, where you prepare all these food? Does the cleanliness of your kitchen affect your food?

This might sound like a simple question, because a normal person would straight away answer ‘yes’. But do you really mean it? Do you actually practice it?

Whether the effect on hygiene or one’s mood while preparing food, those tiny little stains around your kitchen corner, at the edge of your stove, or right at the mouth of your cups, they are bound to give a certain impact to those who spend a lot of their time in the area.

Among those areas, one corner that is worth mentioning is the kitchen hood. That long airway that suck up smelly fumes from your cooking. Whether you believe it or not, many seem to not understand how to clean and maintain it.

Before deciding how much do you want to spend on that huge air pulling machine, ask yourself whether do you understand these several aspects.

1. Will the design effect my budget?

Kitchen hoods come in several different designs, such as bulky, curvy, thin, wide etc. All of these are offered to suit your personal preference. Keep in mind that the prices may be overly different depending on their market demands.

For instance, the curving hoods may seem elegant and modern. However, the truth is, not many people would choose it due to its impracticality.

Standard kitchen cabinets mostly come with a rectangular compartment where you may fit in the hood easily. The curving design, on the other hand, requires customization which will cost you extra money.

Besides, arch structure has been observed to easily accumulate grease residue from smokes. Prolong usage of it with little cleaning may form grease droplets, and when that happens, what is the point of having such an elegant design?

Another concern pertaining this aspect is the material. Take note on these two and you might want to compare them yourself.

Stainless steel is cheaper. However, despite having a reputation of not turning rusty, it still will eventually if not taken care of properly. Aluminium, on the other hand, may last longer with little cleaning but can be quite costly.

All in all, there are pros and cons to every design. Just be sure to consider those with better lighting that can brighten your entire kitchen area, not just the stove. Don’t mind that extra cost for the light bulbs, because they will all be worth it.

2. How do clean up the grease?

Every hood comes with a tool to trap the oil particles from smoke. The common form is the oil cup or oil tray which allows the oil particles to accumulate and drop into that specific area. The engineering behind it is simple but requires some extra efforts in cleaning them.

If cleaning is not your forte, you may consider getting kitchen hoods with carbon filter. The concept if far simpler as you only to replace the filter every time it gets too greasy.

Another consideration is the bolts around your filter.

The idea of having a bolted filter may not be that awful. It provides safety if you are worried of the things falling onto your hot pan while cooking. However, if it comes in between you and smooth cleaning, you should probably give it a thought or two.

3. Is my cooking suitable for having a hood?

The function of having a hood is to prevent your kitchen or entire home smelling like a greasy sewer. If you are a light cook that that produces minimum fumes and smokes, having a hood should never be a problem.

A heavy cook, on the other hand, might render your hoods useless if not properly maintained. Perhaps, a better example would be to get a higher suction power and those models with centralized suction.

If none of these work, get yourself an outdoor kitchen instead. It will save you and your family from the risk of suffocating.

4. Will the warranty last long enough?

Commonly, you will see a 2-year warranty by multiple brands. This will cover up any unexpected damage on panel controller, power supply, motor etc.

In rare occasions, certain brands such as Rinnai, provide up to 6 years of warranty for the motor. If you plan to use the hood for long term, having such warranty may save you tons of cash.