E-Waste and It’s dangers
Do you know what happened to your very first phone or your old pair of wired earphones that would only work when you plug it in a certain way? Chances are that once you found replacements for your old devices, you planned to throw them out but ended up just stuffing them in a random drawer in your house. You will eventually need to rid these old devices, but disposing of these “ancient” pieces of technology is not and should not be as easy as just tossing them into the trash.
Electronic waste, or E-waste, is a term that refers to old electronics that need to be thrown away or repurposed. E-waste is a major contributor to pollution and climate change since many electronic devices contain metals such as lead, mercury, nickel, brominated flame retardants and polycyclic aromatics that can contaminate water and soil as well as burn into greenhouse gasses. E-waste also contributes to environmental racism since many developed countries in the west will send their waste to under-developed countries in Asia, putting the people in those areas at risk for the adverse side effects of E-waste such as organ and nervous system damage and climate change.
What do you do with your old phone now that you know that just simply tossing it into the trash is bad for the environment and humans ? Well, for one. you can repurpose your electronic waste. By repairing your E-waste and selling it for money or giving your E-waste to a thrift store or a loved one, you have effectively reduced E-waste. You can also research local or nearby E-waste recycling programs or centers your area might have and donate your old devices to those programs. It is important that we advocate for E-waste to be disposed of properly so that our waste does not cause preventable problems.
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