How to recycle broken headphones is one of the topics discussed in Zero Waste Week.
A pair of headphones by HifiMan costs $2,250 on Amazon.According to reviews, one person said his pair broke and he wouldn't buy another pair.His second set from the company was mentioned in his review.
Last week, we wrote about how to get rid of used consoles.If your headphones have stopped working, it is important to dispose of them the right way, because they are complicated to recycle.
If you want to avoid adding to the problem of electronic waste, you should research your options before throwing out your old headphones.
Typically, headphones are made of three components which include the speakers, a cord, and a case.Depending on the exact brand and model, there might be aluminum or copper wires, as well as foam or rubber around the pads around your ears.Airpods are mostly made of plastic and metal.
If you have non-working headphones, you need to check with the manufacturer to see if you can recycle them on your own.They can accept them and recycle them on your behalf.For example, Apple will recycle your broken Airpods.It is a good idea to check with the manufacturer to see if your headphones are still under warranty, but at least you will have the pair replaced for free.
Do some research for nearby big-box retailers if your manufacturer doesn't offer a recycling program.Best Buy stores will accept used headphones for recycling if they are still working.You can refer to the customer service if you can't locate the recycling kiosks.
If you want to find nearby electronic waste drop-off locations, use Earth 911's search locator.You can search for Audio Equipment in your zip code.Going through the effort of driving to a facility might not be worth it for a single pair of headphones, so it would be a good opportunity to assemble other electronics you want to dispose of.Maybe you have too much space in your living room for a gaming console or speakers.
If you mail your headphones to JLab Audio, they will recycle them on your behalf.They will give you a code to get 30% off any order of new headphones on their website.
If your earbuds are stuck together with only duct tape, there are a few things you can do to extend their lifespan.
Pull the end instead of yanking out the cable if you want to avoid too hot or cold temperatures.Don't submerging them in liquids and stay away from places with high humidity.
How you store them is also important.It's easy to make your earbuds last longer by wrapping them up properly.Most earbuds stop working when the wire on the inside splits in half, because we don't wrap them properly.