Even worse, so-called e-waste “recyclers” export discarded electronics to developing countries where impoverished laborers, including children, disassemble the products in order to retrieve precious metals such as copper and gold. In dismantling our electronic waste, these people are exposed to a health-threatening cocktail of chemicals such as lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium, lithium, beryllium, dioxins, and plastics such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). According to the Basel Action Network, an international e-waste watchdog group, about 80 percent of the e-waste people give to “recyclers” is not recycled, but instead is shipped to Asia and Africa for disassembly in some of the world’s poorest communities.
T
Jessica Mendes, FGCU graduate student and President of the Environmental and Peace Education Center (EPEC) in Southwest Florida, recently completed a research project on e-waste at the University. Mendes presented her research to a large audience of students, faculty, and other members of the community at the annual Terry Tempest Williams Student Dialogue last November.
The Dialogue took a look at e-waste at FGCU and in the local community, the global impacts of e-waste, and the ethical principles behind consumption and waste. Members of the audience were urged to become more aware of the effect their choices have on the environment. The Dialogue was framed around Principle 7 of the Earth Charter, which urges global citizens to, “Adopt patterns of production, consumption, and reproduction that safeguard Earth’s regenerative capacities, human rights, and community well-being.” Panelists for the evening included Jim Puckett, Director of the Basal Action Network, and Dr. Eric Otto, Assistant Professor of Environmental Humanities at FGCU. The event was co-moderated by Center student assistants Ariel Chomey and Jordan Yingling. Andy Buster, an elder of Florida’s indigenous Miccosukee tribe, gave a special invocation.
We seldom think about our electronics while they are doing what they were designed to do, but when they stop working, we know we have a problem. If we’re lucky, our gadget is covered by a warranty or can be repaired for a reasonable fee. In most instances, our solution is to buy a new device. Often we replace gadgets with a newer model well before they reach the end of their useful lifespan. The perennial buzz surrounding successive iterations of Apple’s iPhone is proof of this trend.
What happens to our gadgets once they become obsolete? We throw them in the trash or carry them out to the curb. When our broken electronics just seem too expensive to throw away, perhaps we consign them to the closet or garage. What happens to all this electronic garbage once it leaves our field of vision? Unfortunately, it often contributes to the growing environmental problem of “electronic waste,” or “e-waste.”
E-waste is composed of discarded, obsolete, or broken items such as computers, monitors, laptops, televisions, cell phones, DVD players, and portable music players, among others. While many manufacturers offer take-back programs or sponsor recycling events, there are very few laws or policies regarding how to handle e-waste. There is no federal mandate for recycling electronics, so it is left to states to decide how they will handle e-waste. Florida currently does not have a mandate for recycling electronics.
PULSE MAGAZINE ---------- 26
“The research was conducted to develop a deeper, interdisciplinary understanding of what our habits and trends are here at FGCU,” said Mendes. “It is important not only to determine where we stand, but where we are going and what actions we need to take to get there.” Her goal is to bring awareness about the issue to students, and to bring FGCU closer to developing a comprehensive policy for responsibly disposing of its electronic waste.
For additional information on this subject, visit the Basel Action Network online at
www.ban.org.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76