Digital Society (E-Waste) Inquiry

Fighting discarded technologies with technologies
Electronic waste refers to the discarded electronic devices such as smartphones, computers and
laptops which have reached their limit. As a country gets more developed than before, the
number of technology companies increases, but at the expense of more e-waste. E-waste can
lead to significant amounts of harm to the environment and human beings at health risk.

 

Electronic waste can put hundreds of lives at risks :
Exposure to toxic chemicals : Hazardous elements such as lead, mercury, and cadmium can be
found in many electronic gadgets. When these devices are not disposed of properly, the
chemicals they potentially leak into the soil and water, contaminating food and water supplies
which ends up causing health problems such as cancer, reproductive troubles, and neurological
impairments.
Air pollution: When e-waste is burned or dismantled, harmful fumes and particles are released
into the air, causing respiratory problems and other health hazards for people who live and work
nearby.

Workplace hazards: E-waste recycling and disposal are frequently done informally and in unsafe
settings, this is mostly common in the developing countries where the people are re-selling
electronic parts in exchange for income and workers are introduced to toxic substances in
working condition.

As digital society students it's our job to come up with a mitigating solution for a better living
environment. We have done plenty of research to find possible ways we can decrease the growth
of e-waste :
Recycling e-waste: Technology can be used to recycle e-waste by extracting valuable materials
that can be utilized to make new products. This minimizes the amount of e-waste that is
discarded or exported to poor countries.

Extended Lifespan : Technology can help to extend the lifespan of electronics through
facilitating repairs and upgrades, lowering the demand for new gadgets and, as a result,
reducing the quantity of e-waste generated.

E-waste management: Technology can assist in the management of e-waste by offering methods
of tracking and monitoring e-waste disposal and recycling to ensure that it is done safely and
sustainably.

E-waste is a global issue, with significant amounts produced in wealthy nations and frequently
transferred to developing countries for disposal. This approach may pose environmental and
health risks in receiving countries, which may lack the infrastructure and regulations necessary
to treat e-waste responsibly. To address the issue of e-waste, countries must work together,
incorporating policymakers, corporations, and individuals.

International mindedness may motivate people to be more aware of their consumption and
disposal behaviors. It can raise awareness of the environmental and social consequences of
e-waste and motivate people to take measures to decrease excessive electronic waste, such as
fixing or distributing old gadgets to the under privileged ones, instead of discarding them away.