ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS OF COMPUTING

E - WASTE

  Author: Chevano Baker
  Date Updated: Apr. 16, 2014
  Occupation: Student (University of the West Indies, Mona)

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Planned versus Perceived Obsolescence

Planned obsolescence as described in the video Story of the Stuff by Anie Leonard occurs when the products are designed to be used up in a certain period of time. In short, it's 'designing for the dump'. The widespread technology in the cell phone and even the electronics markets can be seen as planned obsolescence. Designed for obsolescence can be through function or desirability.

On the other hand, perceived obsolescence can be viewed as the result of "advertising industry".That is, it occurs when a product may be functional but it is no longer perceived to have favourable characteristics.

Planned and perceived obsolescence can be viewed as two reasons why we continue to see marked increases in e-waste.

E -WASTE Management

Managing e- waste has become a concern for many countries and as such governments all over the world have seek to reduce the effect that e waste has on health and the environment. UNEP reports that Inappropriate methods like open burning, which are often used by the informal sector in developing countries to recover valuable materials, have heavy impacts on human health and the environment. They further noted that Harmful emissions of hazardous substances mainly come from:
  1. the product itself (if landfilled): Lead in circuit boards or cathode ray tube (CRT) glass, mercury in liquid crystal display (LCD) backlights

  2. substandard processes: Dioxin formation during burning of halogenated plastics or use of smelting processes without suitable off-gas treatment

  3. reagents used in the recycling process: cyanide and other strong leaching acids, nitrogen oxides (NOx) gas from leaching processes and mercury from amalgamation

Former Prime Minister of Jamaica Andrew Holness proposes that an industry to deal with e-waste rather than dumping them. Development of e-waste policies to set standards for importing electronic gadgets. He further noted that the government through programmes should encourage managing and recycling e waste that could affect the environment. It is clear that managing E - WASTE should be a priority. Follow this link for more details.

Reducing e-waste through practical solutions - The 3 R's

Green Altogether, electronic waste is a growing concern for society and all should be done to monitor any efforts to reduce the impact that e-waste has on the environment.

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Chevano Baker is an Actuarial Science student at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus.



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