Where do we start?
Yearly releases by tech companies
Companies like Apple and Samsung constantly release new products every year. Due to Western culture, it feels like a need to have the newest version every time it comes out, even if you had the version right before it. The new version comes with upgrades and all these promises of green technology, like being carbon-neutral or using recycled tech.
Why These green promises don't matter
Carbon Neutrality requires you to actually use the device enough for it to cancel out the carbon that was used to make it. Even if you were to use the device to the point it became neutral, why stop there? If you were to get a new phone, what would you do with your old one? Throw it away? Recycle it?
Where does your device even go
When you throw away or recycle your tech, it doesn't just end up in American landfills to be burned or recycled. Landfills are ugly and bad for the air, so Americans ship out 23% of it every year to developing countries so they can deal with it. These countries want the e-waste because the recovery process can end up yielding money for those who bother to do it.
The "recycling" process
What happens with your tech once it has been shipped to developing countries (Ghana pictured) is people must search through heaps of e-waste and recover what is valuable. This work relies on the cheap labor of citizens who have no choice but to risk their health to toxic fumes so they can afford a meal. To recover precious metals like copper from wiring, many people will burn the wires around it due to having a higher melting point than plastic allowing them to get the precious metals far quicker than the safe way of peeling the plastic off.
Where does the recycled materials go
Once the precious metals needed to make the devices have been extracted, rich companies will buy them for a cheaper price than their environmentally friendly version of recycling. This promotes bad treatment of the environment and treatment of people in developing countries, allowing rich corporations to treat their homes as trash mounds.
How do I stop my tech from ending up in the cycle?
One way to stop your devices from ending up in the cycle is to only use what you need
- Only have one device for the family every room doesn't need a tv
- Use your technology as long as you can the next generation of devices is never good enough to swap immediately
- Donate it to schools or those who need it
- If you are to recycle check how and where they recycle
Recycling can be a very important part of keeping the world safe but if you trust money-hungry companies to be honest on their packaging you could unfortunately be doing more harm than good.
Sources
Joline Blais in NMD 200
https://www.wcrecycler.com/blog/top-10-ways-to-reduce-e-waste
https://sadoffelectronicsrecycling.com/blog/why-is-e-waste-often-shipped-to-other-countries-phc/
https://www.apple.com/environment/
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/13/inside-apple-iphone-where-parts-and-materials-come-from.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dd_ZttK3PuM
https://environmentamerica.org/center/resources/trash-in-america-2/
Credits:
Created with images by Touchr - "Set of White box tall shape product packaging in side view and front view isolated on white background with clipping path." • BullRun - "Cupertino , California / USA - November 17, 2018, Apple Park Visitor Center. Laptop Product, Mac Book Pro Computer with Ipad tablet and Iphone near" • AungThurein - "A recycle bin filled with e wastes, a concept for e waste management" • David - "Close-up Business Hands money pocket and counting money American dollars , Income and Business concept." • alphaspirit - "Cardboard boxes on conveyor rollers inside a warehouse ready to be shipped by courier for distribution" • Shahid Jamil - "a laptop half closed in the dark with a phone and wireless earphones glowing" • ronnarong - "old and obsolete cellphone on a white background. Free space for text" • insta_photos - "Diverse happy school kids using laptop computer together in classroom. Multicultural children junior students classmates learning online elementary education program class gathered at desk." • Anna - "Green recycling symbol on a blurred modern office background. Suitable for sustainability campaigns, environmental awareness, and eco-friendly initiatives."