Made to Break pt 3

When purchasing a TV, cell phone, or ipod, do you ever think about where these items will go after you no longer use or need them? "When e-waste is burned anywhere in the world, dioxins, furans, and other pollutants are released into the air, with potentially disastrous health consequences around the globe" (Slade 261). The amount of e-waste is growing exponentially in that people are throwing away perfectly useable products to buy newer and better ones. For example, cell phones are having the shortest life cycle of any electronic consumer product in the country. I, myself, am the contributing factor to this exponential growth of e-waste. I had 14 cellphones since I was in 6th grade. Most of them were either broken, lost, or perfectly normal but outdated. With an extra charge of $10 per month, consumers can get a warranty in which one can replace or update one's electronic devices. Phone companies also have a plan where you can easily update to a better/newer cell phone every year with the addition of another 2-year contract.
- So why does e-waste occur?
The main contributor to the exponential growth is due to the media and advertising strategies of manufacturers. "The average American, one analyst has noted, will have watched more than three years of television advertising by the end of his or her life" (Slade 265). That is a lot of time spent on watching manipulative advertising.
- So what happens to all the e-waste?
It is important as a consumer to understand the effects of e-waste on our environment. The universal problem has been compounded by fast growing technological advances, and a lack of resources to deal with the resulting e-waste. The waste that is left over from consumers' electronics consists of PCB's or polychlorinated biphenyls, mercury, lead, and cadmium. These are very TOXIC and studies have shown that PCB's may cause cancer. Our water and soil may become contaminated, which would eventually enter our food chain, if these wastes are not properly disposed of. Almost all of the e-waste is being dumped into landfills due to its hazardous toxins. From there, the e-waste becomes incinerated, recycled, and reused. Incineration releases heavy metals like PCB's into the air and ashes which can cause both ozone depletion and health problems through inhalation. Much of the remaining e-waste are being exported to developing countries where laborers, under unsafe conditions, are working to recycle the e-waste. 

- Is there a solution? 

Most people today upgrade after about a year or so and leave their old laptop or cellphone lying around abandoned until it's no longer any good to anyone. If people sold their one or two year old laptops, PCs, cellphones, cameras, etc as pre-owned, then the e-waste would be cut by a huge percentage... So why not people? Sell your "old" and "outdated" one or two years of used items and get money and save the planet. DUH.