Electronic waste, or e-waste, is mounting as demand for consumer technology continues to grow. In Vietnam, where much of the discarded equipment is processed by informal recyclers using rudimentary methods, concerns are rising over the environmental consequences. For environmentally conscious consumers, finding a place to dispose of unwanted electronic items such as batteries, remote controls, electronic toys, or broken laptop and computer parts can be surprisingly difficult. While collection programs, battery-for-gifts campaigns, and producer take-back initiatives have been widely promoted, accessing these disposal channels in practice is often far less straightforward than advertised. Simple, but not always convenient When L.A., a secretary at a business association, changed jobs after the 2026 Lunar New Year holiday, her former office lost more than just an employee. It also lost its unofficial e-waste collection point. Known among colleagues as the keeper of the office’s “Doraemon bag,” L.A. maintained a box where used batteries could be dropped off before being taken to designated recycling sites. She also helped dispose of larger electronic items, from old phone chargers and cables to worn-out laptop accessories, either delivering them herself or directing coworkers to appropriate collection points. Her message was always the same: electronic waste should not […]