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The human and environmental effects of e-waste
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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.
Even though electronic waste contributes one percent of waste as discussed earlier, it poses a significant threat to the environment. “RCRA does not, however, cover electronic waste except CRTs, nor does it regulate electronic devices donated for educational or charitable reuse.” The RCRA should implement rules to govern e-waste because e-waste not only affects lives in the United States, It affects everyone globally. E-waste typically finds its ways out of the United States and ends up in developing countries like
The e-waste trade is an exploitative industry in which electronics, circuit boards, old TV’s and desktops that are of no more value, get dumped into third world countries such as Ghana, Vietnam, Malaysia, Pakistan, Hong Kong, and many others. The people of these third world countries than burn the electronics in order to collect the remains and scraps of copper and iron that can be sold for money. The smell and burning smolder of plastic from the computers and old TV’s are incredibly toxic, slowly killing the children, women, and men that burn these e-waste remains in order to create a living for themselves. Adam Smith, Karl Marx, and Emile Durkheim all have theories that can be applied and related to this trade of e-waste. Adam Smith’s theory
The article “Our E-Waste Problem Is Ridiculous, and Gadget Makers Aren’t Helping” by Christina Bonnington explains that our landfills are being filled with unused electronics of yesteryear. In 2011, there were 41.5 million tons of electronic wastes in landfills. In 2016, they projected the number to go up to 93.5 million tons. Specifically, our old products are in landfills now such as, HP computers, computer towers, cell phones, and batteries. The reason for all the waste is the human race is buying the newest electronics and not disposing of their unused and unwanted electronics properly. Also, not all of the unused electronics are recyclable. E-waste has a huge negative effect while in landfills because electronics breakdown and they breakdown
The article, “Our E-Waste Problem is Ridiculous, and Gadget Makers Aren’t Helping,” by Christina Bonnington, focused the process of electronic devices to be recycled, the challenges of recycling electronic waste, and making devices more recyclable. First, Bonnington described the recycling process. Depending on the condition on the product will determine if it will be reused or stripped down to be destroyed. According to the author, having a simpler design makes the reprocessing easier to bare the electronics for turning into materials. Next, the author mentioned the challenges of recycling. One challenge is how electronics are becoming more compact and tougher to strip apart to separate the materials. Conferring to Bonnington, batteries are
Low-income communities are disproportionately living in close proximity to waste related sites in the U.S. To support this claim, reports show that three of out five of the largest landfills in the United States are located in predominantly African American or Latina/o American communities (Hamilton, 6). From this report it is evident that low-income communities are left with the burden of supporting the lifestyles of this consumer society. Although they are the least likely to consume and thus create waste, low-income residents live in communities where they are exposed to degraded environments. To understand why low-income communities live in close proximity to waste related sites, waste corporations claim, “Residents on average are much poorer, less well educated and more likely to be African American than t...
Electronic waste, or any waste for that matter is an inevitable part of an economic system where the destruction of an ecosystem is the primarily source of resources that are used to create the product. The waste that occurs from this process has to be disposed of in some way and more often than not, it is disposed of carelessly with out consideration to the affect it would have on the environment or the very people that create and let capitalism live on, “The political economy approach also defers progress on environmental issues to a pint after economic ones are solved” (Robbins et al. 2010, 114). And if this continues there may be no place left for the excess waste created by capitalism.
McKenzie, A. D. “Recycling: It’s Rubbish to Waste Like This.” Global Information Netwrok 18 Nov. 2013: n. pag. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 24 Jan. 2014.
For most of America, recycling has become a way of life. For some, it is a valiant effort to take charge of our waste and do what is right for the environment and for future generations. For others, it is a forced mentality by government agencies or private businesses who attempt to prove their value by self-promoting their commitment to environmental responsibility. Recycling, in theory, is a positive effort; however, massive recycling programs are not the answer. Recycling programs in general lack an intelligent way to a means, since the costs and environmental burden may outweigh the desired result. Recyclers should only focus on materials that they can process in a cost effective way, and consumers should focus
This waste should not be pressured upon a geographical area if they do not create it. A clean and healthy environment is the only thing many lesser-developed countries have to cherish.
Cluttered trash filled parks, waste filled rivers, and town sized landfills and that is what awaits the people of earth if nothing is done to aid in the efforts to keep the world clean and recycling is one best and most beneficial ways to do just that. The truth is a frightening thing however it is true if we don’t act to improve our habits soon it might just be a reality, recycling should be mandatory for all households in order to prevent this trash filled grim future.
...n. Many American shares a common image of not living in a finite world and are used to exponential growth in almost all aspects of that a developed country would attempt to obtain positively. Though when comparing the United States to other countries around the world with the amount of garbage produced annually, we top the scales around two hundred and thirty-six million tons. Even japan, ranked third and half the size of America, has less then fifty-five million tons of garbage annually. (Forbes) As we continue to diminish our sources at alarming rate, people often forget the treatment and infrastructure required to manage all our garbage. The sad but inevitable process of wiping out forests and preserved land for more space for urban living hugely hurts not only American population but foreign companies who wish to do future international business in our country.
Some people think that recycling is an effective way to reduce pollution and others may disagree with this statement. Richard A. Denison a senior scientist at environmental defense and John F. Ruston an economist with environmental defense both think that recycling is an effective way to reduce pollution. Allen Hershkowitz a leading expert on recycling and a senior scientist at the natural resources defense council, also believes that recycling is an effective way to reduce pollution. Brenda Platt the director of materials recovery at ILSR and Neil Seldman president of the institute for local self-reliance (ILSR), both agree with Denison, Ruston and Hershkowitz. They think that “recycling not only reduces pollution but also improves public health.”
America and Europe are at the top of the list for most waste generated according to Waste (4). This is very visible because there’s litter on every street in the towns and cities, as well in lakes, beaches, and rivers. The book Waste by Rob Bowden states that the amount of waste produced is increasing at a rate faster than population growth. About 1.5 million computers, in the U.K, are thrown away each year and most end up in landfills. There are 3 types of waste which are Municipal Solid Waste, Industrial Waste, and Hazardous waste. MSW includes waste from public garbage cans and local dumpsters. Industrial Waste includes massive amounts of waste water that is contaminated with chemicals. Hazardous waste is the most dangerous as it presents a danger to human health and the environment. Solutions for waste disposal take time because people need to consider their lifestyle and limit the amount of waste they generate. A good start is to recycle items such as paper, cans, plastic, and clothes. This way they don’t end up in landfills, beaches, or streets. Another solution is to join organizations that go around places to recycle, or organizations that demand the reduction in the amount of products that are being
...or lakes (Weber 2). When people just dump waste products instead of recycling, it is a misuse of the soil and can contribute to serious health conditions in animals, plants and humans.
"Recycling | Reduce, Reuse, Recycle | US EPA." US Environmental Protection Agency. Web. 06 Dec. 2011. .