E-waste is disposed electronics that go to scrap yards in China, India, Nigeria, and Ghana. E-waste is often exported illegally to Ghana under the label of "second hand goods." Some parts are even the property of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Unprotected workers, who sometimes use their bare hands and are often children, are exposed to toxic chemicals that affect their reproductive system, brain development, nervous system, and can cause cancer. The workers burn the electronics in order to get scraps of cooper and aluminum to be sold for 2 US dollars per 11 pounds. The remains get dumped as there are few recycling facilities in Ghana.
Quote:
Rather than being safely recycled, much of this e-waste gets dumped in developing countries.
Rather than being safely recycled, much of this e-waste gets dumped in developing countries.
Personal Thoughts:
The issue of E-waste is what began my concerns with the environment. Unlike climate change where the effects can only be seen decades later, the effects of e-waste are happening now and yet the issue still continues. Not a lot of people know what to do with e-waste and neither do I. I hope in the future people will be able to recycle batteries as easily as paper.
The issue of E-waste is what began my concerns with the environment. Unlike climate change where the effects can only be seen decades later, the effects of e-waste are happening now and yet the issue still continues. Not a lot of people know what to do with e-waste and neither do I. I hope in the future people will be able to recycle batteries as easily as paper.
Citation:
"High Tech Toxic Trash Causing Horrendous Pollution in Ghana." Greenpeace. Greenpeace, 5 Aug. 2008. Web. 08 Dec. 2013.
It scary that there are many substances that we can't dispose of easily. The best solution is to limit the amount of E waste produced but its hard to get people to do this, especially because it would probably take time and money to limit their waste.
ReplyDeleteI know that even I have a hard time disposing batteries because I hate to think of what they will turn into! It's horrible that children are exposed the the toxins and I hope that they figure out a good solution in the near future to prevent this!
ReplyDeleteLike Colleen said toxic waste takes time and money to properly dispose of and unfortunately many people don't want to take the time to do this. I, honestly, don't blame them. No one wants to spend money to dispose of their paint properly if they can throw it down the drain. But what people don't realize is that throwing it down the drain will only come back to bit them in the wallet. All that waste has to go somewhere and in turn we have to keep the waters clean and that costs money which ends up coming out of taxpayers paychecks.
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