The Electronic Wasteland video was very informative, I would say it's eye opening, but I already knew the problem existed. It is extremely upsetting seeing a company such as the recycling company mentioned in the video blatantly shipping their trash overseas, which no surprise there a company lying. It's really saddening seeing the first world dump its trash on those less fortunate and profit from it, very Reaganomic. It really makes me want to study plastics and environment to develop plastics or a way of reusing old plastic. Did you know that Iron, used in steel manufacturing is actually a less common metal, however the United States car recycling system is so efficient that we can keep making metal parts by recycling old cars. It would be really awesome to see this type of program put in place. Like say you have a toy you no longer play with, well take it to the recycling center with your old printer and laptop and turn them in for a small monetary reward. However this takes more taxes and more government interference, which makes the horizon for it's possibility very far away.
Three sustainable ways to get rid of technological trash
From the Sustainable Electronics Recycling International website,
Rebuild and reuse, chances are that the technology that first nations throw away, could easily be rebuilt or re purposed and given to a country of need.
Recovery and dis assembly, metals and parts of old technologies could be used or recycled for new technologies.
The biggest factor in assisting sustainable technology is documentation and price, people don't want to pay for recycling, lets be honest, and are too lazy to take it to a place that recycles and documents what is being brought in. Its much easier when you can just set it at the curb and BAM it disappears into the garbage truck forever.
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