Technology fans across the world could not wait to get their hands on Apple’s new iPhone 5 as soon as it was released; even though the new device required a whole new set of chords, and connectors. What many Apple enthusiasts did not think about was the amount of electronic waste, or e-waste, that their new toys created.
One of the growing concerns of many environmentalists is that as technology changes so does the need to get rid of the outdated devices and their related parts. According to the Earth Day Network, Americans produce over 50 million tons of e-waste.
These discarded electronics often end up in landfills or are incinerated, which can cause major environmental problems, as they are made up of extremely hazardous materials such as lead, mercury and cadmium. If the e-waste is left in a landfill or incinerated, the harmful chemicals will leak into the ground and atmosphere causing multiple problems for the communities. They also don’t just disappear, so old printers, monitors and phone chords continue to stay in the landfills for centuries creating problems for the surrounding areas.
Of that 50 million tons of waste per year, only around 20 to 25 percent of it is actually gotten rid of safely and unfortunately, the final 75 percent ends up in landfills.
Source: CBS News
By Shoshana Davis