Going green 4, exercise 2, page 70 e waste why so much junk?0:00
There's no doubt that electronic and electric goods make our lives much easier.0:10
But unfortunately, there's a price to pay for this.0:14
As technology advances at a faster pace each year, appliances and gadgets quickly become outdated.0:17
No one wants to be left behind in the technology race, so they go out and buy the latest models.0:24
The old devices just get thrown away.0:30
Electronic equipment has now become more available and less costly.0:33
That means that people often replace their old computers and TVs instead of getting them repaired.0:38
Very often it is more expensive to repair an item than to buy a new one.0:44
But this practice creates tons of electronic waste, or E waste.0:48
In the USA alone, people get rid of about 250 million computers a year, and only 10% are recycled.0:53
E waste contains over a thousand chemicals, many of which are very toxic.1:01
Most E waste currently ends up in landfills, where chemicals and heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, chromium and mercury gradually leak into the soil.1:06
So what's the big deal?1:16
Many of these chemicals are highly toxic and can eventually cause great harm to people.1:19
E waste that is burnt rather than dumped in a landfill also releases toxic gases into the air.1:25
E waste is a problem, but fortunately all is not lost.1:31
Manufacturers are starting to encourage more recycling and reduce the number of toxic chemicals they use.1:35
In fact, making their products more environmentally friendly has become a good selling point.1:42
Also, many countries that used to export their E waste to poorer countries have now signed treaties to stop this practice.1:48
It is not just up to the governments and businesses to tackle E waste.1:55
We can all do something.1:59
Looking after your equipment means you won't need to replace it so often.2:02
A little simple maintenance, like buying a new part or getting an expert to service a device, can make all the difference to the environment.2:06
It will save you money too.2:14
A helpful idea for dealing with E waste is to sell or donate old appliances and electronic items to someone who can still use them.2:17
For example, instead of throwing our old computer out, we could take it to a technician.2:24
As technicians are often involved in computer maintenance, they would find the components useful in their repair work.2:30
The main way to get rid of E waste efficiently is to recycle it.2:36
Old mobile phones, batteries and many other objects can all be taken to recycling banks.2:40
If a household object like a fridge or washing machine is too big for us to take ourselves, our local council can arrange to come round and collect it.2:46
Many private recycling companies are also willing to do this.2:55
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