E-waste

Today, much of our outdated electronics are being recycled which seems to be a good thing, but what most people do not know, is that most of this “recycle” is being disposed of irresponsibly. This hazardous electronic waste is called e-waste. Our old electronics are being sent to developing countries to extract the valuable materials from them, but it is being done in a way that is damaging the environment and people who work, play, and live there. Something has to be done about the e-waste problem! So we, as responsible inhabitants of this earth, have to ask ourselves “What is happening with my outdated electronics?”

Electronic devices such as phones, computers, video game consoles, and TVs all contain heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium, lead, and many other potentially harmful substances. If these potentially hazardous contents of e-waste are improperly managed then there can be very serious health and environmental risks (Tsydenova). Therefore, it is logical that just throwing out your old, outdated electronics and sending them to the landfill where they could leak their toxic substances into the ground and surrounding area would be environmentally irresponsible.

Around 80 percent of all Americans just throw out their outdated technology. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that Americans throw away 2 billion tons of e-waste a year and over 350,000 cell phones and 130,000 computers every single day. E-waste is now the fastest growing part of U.S. garbage. The responsible thing to do would be to recycle our unwanted e-waste, but if it is not properly handled then it could actually be even worse for the environment.

In these electronics, there are not only hazardous metals, but valuable metals as well. T...

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...ir own. We, as an entire human race, have to work together to protect this earth that we like to call home.

Works Cited

- Tsydenova, Oyuna, and Magnus Bengtsson. "Chemical hazards associated with treatment of waste electrical and electronic equipment." Waste Management 31.1 (2011): 45-58. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO.

- Xiangdong Li, et al. "Heavy metal contamination in soils and vegetables near an e-waste processing site, south China." Journal of Hazardous Materials 186.1 (2011): 481-490. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO.

- Stone, Brad. "Tech Trash, E-Waste: By Any Name, It's an Issue." Newsweek 146.24 (2005): 11.Academic Search Premier. EBSCO.

- Walsh, Bryan. "E-Waste Not." Time 173.2 (2009): 49-50. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO.

- Schaffhauser, Dian. "The Dirt on E-Waste." T H E Journal 36.3 (2009): 20-25. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO.