Sunday, February 8, 2009
Technological Change and the Environment
This weeks material really opened my eyes when it comes to "e-waste" especially. As many other people I'm sure, I have never really put much thought into what happens to all these technologies when they expire. I then got into thinking about what happens to a lot of things when we're done with them, een things so simple as a toothbrush or "not so simple" as a refrigerator. Obviously the ideal thing would be that these get recycled in some way but much like computers, things like refrigerators contain many types of materials, including various chemicals. So what happens to these? It also got me thinking about how much more e-waste there must be with the rapidly increasing need to keep up with technology and the rapidly increasing rate at which technology is advancing. Greg and Katelyn mention in the summary of the article they chose that the average lifespan of a new model computer has decreased from 4.5 years in 1992 to an estimated 2 years in 2005, and that's just computers! There's also ipods, televisions, cell phones, and the list goes on. It's no wonder e-waste is one of the fastest growing areas of international waste. However, I don't believe this is the users' fault as not many people know what to do with these things when they're done with them and are ready to throw them out. I've had to get 2 new laptops since I started university and both of the ones that I had before are still at my dad's place because we don't want to just throw them in the garbage but we don't know where to bring them. However, it's easy to see how some people wouldn't care so much and just throw it in the garbage but especially now, knowing all of what's actually in a computer, that's not an option for me. If anyone knows of a place that recycles computers or put them to a better use than sitting in a dump, please, let me know! I would hate for them to end up in Africa.
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I feel the same way you do, it is scary to think about all the waste that we are putting out there just from e-waste. I have been fortunate to have only had to buy one computer, but at my parents house we have two old computers that I will not let them throw away and not to mention the keyboards, speakers and mice. I try to be really cautious about what I am throwing in the garbage, but I do not have the room to be a pack rat! When I made a bunch of phone calls around to computer stores, nobody would take them if they were over a certain year. I think that electronic companies should be required to find alternatives for computers ect. so that people do not have to throw them in the garbage. So I am also very curious as to where old computers and accessories can be taken too!?
ReplyDeleteI totally agree, I have been through 3 cell phones in the past 2 years (because they broke) but I never considered until now where they may have ended up. I was considering buying a new laptop because I thought mine was trash, but now I've changed my mind. It's just tough when things aren't built to last anymore. Then again, in the past there wansn't the same amount of advanced technical innovation as there is now. I think that electronic companies should take the initiative in combating this e-waste problem by developing programs and incentives towards the proper recycling of used electronics. Education is also a huge thing because people are unaware. I do not know of a single facility to recycle used electronics? Most people probably don't even know what e-waste is. I'm glad I am aware, but at the same time, it's scary to know and see what our world is coming too...
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