Saturday 7 August 2010

Where does our Hi-Tech waste go?

This question is coming up right after i spot the news headline “Europe breaking electronic waste export ban” by Aiden Lewis on BBC news. Electronic waste is becoming a big issue in Europe because of an illegal e-waste exporting to Africa and Asia which against the ban.

According to the news, the containers of unused electronics such as television, computer or electronic scrap components are shipped illegally to developing countries - most commonly Ghana, Nigeria, India, Pakistan and others South Asian countries. The problem is about it’s designed which contains some toxic heavy metals and hazardous chemicals that causes serious health problems to workers, some of them are children who exposed to this waste burning process everyday. Besides, there are penalties for those who illegally exports e-waste or have higher fines but it seems never actually implement.

In my opinion, E-waste is going to be a global issue. Even though, It has often been suggested that how we can recycle one’s own unused stuffs and i believed that most of them ignored this. Where should we start to fix this problems? I think that governments should educate people about e-waste “Where does it go?” “How does electronic waste effects workers?” and weaning them off their electronics habit.

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References

Europe breaking electronic waste export ban. (2010, August 4). BBC News. Retrieved August 6, 2010 from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-10846395


5 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Arkk.. I read the same article you wrote about. I have to look for another (which is the most difficult part).

    I think that all of the electronic company should take responsibility to this issue too. It's not right to create and just left them be garbages? They should concern that the lost of their benefit on recycle process is worth to do to save the environment.

    I'm the one who use green products. I bought a green heart phone that its frame made of recycled plastic and packed in an economical box. Even if its price is pretty high if we compare to the regular component phone, I'm still proud of my idea.

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  3. I think a person who must take responsibility for this problem is electronic company because they have to think about how to eradicate e-waste from their factories, and design their products to friendly with the environment.
    E-waste producer's country should be ashamed of their selfishness that they have made with the environment.

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  4. @ Kaem
    555 I am sorry about that. T^T

    I do agree with Kaem and Nan that someone should take responsibility and that someone is those electronic company!

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  5. To Golf, Nan, and Kaem,
    I think the customers must share the responsible with company. The electric companies can make tons of what are going to be e-wastes because there are tons of demands. Even there are billion ways to recycle, and reduce, e-waste, but if the customers don't cooperate it will worthless.
    And about "green" product you mentioned, I think it just a new value added strategy.

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