August 27 article, Original title: Old things are still available, Argentine groups give electronic waste "new life" Need a new game console? Make one out of a respirator. Have a spare old payment end point? Then turn it into a video camera! The ideas come from Argentina's "E-Waste Explorers", a group of ingenious tech enthusiasts who specialize in giving e-waste a "new lease of life". "We try to do novel technological experiments by recycling and repurposing e-waste that others just throw away," said Esteban Palladino, a member of the group. "The campaign is both charitable, scientific and fun."

A scientific report released by the United Nations in 2024 shows that Argentina generates an average of 520,000 tons of electronic waste a year, behind the United States, Brazil, Mexico and Canada in the Americas.

The group, which has dozens of members, was founded in 2019 and has grown rapidly because of the rapidly growing demand for people to study and work from home during the pandemic. Its volunteers rescue and refurbish old devices from e-waste, install free operating systems and donate them to those in need.

Recently, the group set up a workshop to revive abandoned smart phones at the annual meeting held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. At the event, the repaired electronic screen flashed with the slogan "Old things are still available", and there were "game consoles" transformed from electronic waste for experience (pictured), and even learning how to run artificial intelligence applications on old computers.

Member of the group, electronic engineer Juan Carrick often goes to school, teaching children how to use electronic garbage to make simple devices such as temperature sensors or motor controllers, buy ready-made electronics, and use electronic garbage self-made, these two experiences are very different.

Calick strongly criticized the ¡°planned disposal strategy,¡± which means that companies deliberately designed products to become obsolete and disposable after a period of use. He used a free app to make his blood sugar tester compatible with mobile phones, extending the device¡¯s lifetime and even exceeding the manufacturer¡¯s theoretical termination period. Calick said this was done to ¡°restore the right to judge whether the electronics could continue to be used.¡±

Although the group is committed to making e-waste "rebirth", they are always alert to the impact of smartphones, especially when smartphones have an impact on the younger generation in Argentina. Another member of the group, Christian Rojo, said: "The ecosystem of electronic products such as smartphones can break down our social relationships and jeopardize the mental health of young people." (author Thomas Viola, Line One Translator)