Over the past few years, environmental concerns have surfaced at an increasing rate, since people realize that resources are scare, and our planet wont be able to support this materialistic lifestyle humans are living for much longer. One great concern, has been the recyling of electronics. The world has developed an obsession with updating technology on a daily basis and releasing new products monthly. Consumers therefore want to keep with the fad, and buy the new technology. But where does all the old electronic waste go to? The “GEEP Electronics Recycling Centre” in China, is supposedly a centre where old computers get recycled. Instead, 120 tonnes of imported “e-waste” is sitting in the factories backyard. The reasons why this is dangerous, is because dangerous chemicals from the computers are leaching into the atmosphere and harming the environment and human health. This is just one example of how we continue to destroy our planet bit by bit. My generation, is probably the first to realize that we have to change this. I never thought that I myself am contributing 2.275 tonnes of CO2 per year as I learned in class, but now that I am conscious of it, I will try to lower those levels, just like consumers should think twice about buying another electronic device, because chance’s are that the product will stick around longer than the person who buy’s it.
Source for picture and article:
http://news.nationalpost.com/2010/08/26/e-waste-recycling-programs-critiqued-for-environmental-damage-huh/