Brophy College Preparatory 2009 Summit on Human Dignity

One People, One Planet, One Mission:
Renewing Our Commitment to Sustainability and Stewardship

A Forum to Examine Global Environmental Issues in Light of Our Gospel Call
to Respect and Promote the Human Dignity of Each Person.

 

E-waste pandemic spreads as profits rise

Commentary by David Sydiongco ’09
The Roundup

Without a doubt, the absolute last thing in the average consumer’s mind when they receive that new cell phone, laptop, television, iPhone, etc., is where that expensive piece of gadgetry will end up when they inevitably tire of it.

In an age of digital domination, e-waste – a waste type consisting of unwanted electronically devices – is becoming an increasingly prelevant issue at an international scale.

On Feb. 6 Westech Recyclers, Inc. will attend the Brophy Electronic Recycling event. They will be on campus, accepting donations of unwanted electronics for environmentally-safe recycling until 2:30 p.m.. A list of acceptable items can be found at the Office of Faith and Justice.

From the most arcane microwaves to the latest HDTV, discarded electronics pose a serious threat to both humans and their planet.

In addition to being non-biodegradable, meaning it cannot be broken down by naturally-occurring organisms, electronic waste is composed of highly toxic materials, such as mercury and lead, posing serious health risks.

According to www.greenpeace.org, 20-50 million tons of e-waste is produced each year.
It is the fastest growing form of municipal solid waste.

Yet, despite being the primary producers of e-waste, citizens of first-world nations need not worry about their streets being flooded with long-forgotten computer monitors.
Rather, it is the easily-exploitable developing countries that get to drown in the excess of our throwaway-culture.

Despite its hazardous and harmful nature, there is money to be made in improper e-waste management; a fact that has not escaped megalomaniacal minds of some.
Mixed in with the debilitating arsenic and lithium are precious metals, like gold and silver that continue to rise in value.

Developed countries do not hold the responsibility of recycling their own e-waste.
Rather these nations, which include the U.S., export their electronic waste to faraway developing countries, where environmental standards are poorly enforced, if at all, and labor is cheap.

These recipients include South Africa, Chile, India and China, according to a  Swiss institute dedicated to sustainable technology.

Guiyu, located in Southern China, is one of the nation’s hundreds of “e-waste towns.”
Its main industry is the dismantling of electronic trash. Unfortunately, they must tackle this 21st century feat with 17th century methods.

Open burning is the most common practice.

Pollutants such as lead and PVC are openly released into the atmosphere, causing severe health complications.

The toxic components of toner cartages and CRT monitors are dismantled with crude tools in homes, then handled with bare hands.

Chest pain, respiratory difficulties and cancer are everyday encounters for the people of this village.

Even visitors to the town experience headaches due to the polluted, metal-tasting air.
Yet, despite being in the recycling industry, the town lacks a discernable, separate land fill. Instead, acres of electronic waste are found littering the streets, homes, fields and water sources of Guiyu.

The sight is almost unbelievable.

Children play in piles of e-waste, resulting in the led content of their blood being 25 percent above the normal rate, according to “Toxic Villages,” a Current TV documentary on Guiyu.

Despite this, while not ecstatic over their living conditions, the residents of Guiyu seem to accept their surroundings. After all, the community is primarily composed of rural peasants who are more than happy to receive their meager $1.50 a day, even if that means the reduction of their life expectancies.

While news coverage of Guiyu has been extensive, especially by the increasingly courageous Chinese media, the seemingly inescapable presence of corrupt local government preserves the e-waste industry.

“Toxic Villages” reveals that international efforts to stop e-waste exportation have been made, but are constantly hindered by loose shipping laws and a priority list that does not include human dignity.

Currently, the United States is the only first-world nation that has yet to ratify the Basel Convention.

Enacted in 1992, the treaty is designed to reduce the international trade of hazardous waste from developed to developing countries.

So what can a Brophy student, a man for others, do to combat this grave social injustice?

Be active in your consumerism.

Be aware of who you are buying from, and how recyclable their materials are.
Greenpeace International has listed Nintendo, in comparison to competing electronics companies, as last in terms of producing products that are environmentally sustainable.
Take an active role in determining where your old electronics go. Do not simply throw them in the kitchen waste bin to end up in some landfill.

When graduation time comes and you are ready for new laptops, make sure the Toshiba that served you so well over the years doesn’t end up polluting a water source in Nigeria.

Instead, take your past-his-prime friend to an electronic waste recycling organization, such as the Alameda County Computer Resource Center.

While collection centers are primarily located in California, one has the option of mailing old electronics to these centers.

The environmental contribution is well worth a little postage and bubble wrap.
If you’re thinking about investing in one of those trendy new Apple MacBooks, make sure you take advantage of the Apple Recycling Program, which will recycle your old computer for free.

Even entrepreneurs can take part — through second hand sales. Done with that iPod or PSP? Sell it to a friend or younger sibling. E-waste will be lessened, little brother will be entertained, you’ll be paid and capitalism with be appeased.

Or, simply get longer use out of your electronic purchases. You don’t really need that new iPhone, even if it can essentially make toast.

In the end, combating e-waste, like anything worthwhile, requires a little bit of effort and sacrifice.

While it does not call for a massive Stone Age technological reversion, it does ask you to think about the consequences of your purchases, and how your actions will inevitably affect the world.