Our E-Waste is Harming The Environment and Developing Countries

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Recommended: The human and environmental effects of e-waste

What is E-waste? E-waste is also known as electronic waste in which we no longer use our electronics. Did you know that “a massive eighty percent of the e-waste that is generated worldwide is not properly recycled” (Ford, Matt.)? What happens with the electronics when we are done with them if they are not recycled properly? Most people just toss out their unwanted electronics, but do you know what happens if you just toss the products? Many end up half way across the world distributed all over third-world countries’ land. According to the article “Illegal E-Waste from America Poisons Communities Overseas”, Scott Pelley states, “It’s literally acres of computer monitors” that have been brought over to Hong Kong (CBSnews.com.). E-waste is a serious problem not many of us are aware of, and it’s causing harm to third-world countries’ environment along with their health; an important change needs to happen.
The more E-waste we produce the more it’s harming the environment. Developed countries do not take care of the majority of their E-waste properly; instead they send it over to developing countries and watch as they turn into wastelands. In the article “Illegal E-Waste from America Poisons Communities Overseas” it mentions that over in China “you can’t breathe the air or drink the water, a town where the blood of the children is laced with lead” (CBSnews.com.). This is all brought on because of the amount of E-waste that has been produced and what we keep producing. Not only can the people over in China not drink their water, but they can’t play in their rivers Jim Puckett explains “This is an ash river. This is detritus from burning all this material and this is what the kids get to play in” without being contaminated with the debr...

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...haven Press, 2012. At Issue. Rpt. from "Following the Trail of Toxis E-Waste. 60 Minutes Follows America's Toxic Electronic Waste as It Is Illegally Shipped to Become China's Dirty Secret." 2009. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 10 Feb. 2014
Environment News Service. "E-Waste Recycling Certification Will Help Stem the Illegal Waste Trade." What Is the Impact of E-Waste?" Ed. Tamara Thompson. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. At Issue. Rept from "Certification for Electronic Waste Recycling Gathers Support." 2010. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 10 Feb. 2014.
Ford, Matt. "Developing Countries Are a Dumping Ground for Hazardous E-Waste."What is the Impact of E-Waste? Ed. Tamara Thompson. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. At Issue. Rpt. from "Sifting Through the Mounting Problem of E-Waste." CNN.com. 2009. Opposing Viewpoints in Context.

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