The Ugly Truth About Toxic E-Waste

50 million metric tons of e-waste are generated every year. Can we make it sustainable?

As new iterations of technology rapidly replace their predecessors, electronic waste (or, e-waste) is beginning to pile up around the world at never-before-seen rates, and it’s creating an environmental nightmare.

It’s estimated that by the year 2030, the amount of e-waste discarded globally will escalate to 74.7 million tons. But an increased emphasis on recycling electronics alone isn’t going to solve the problem.

Addressing some fundamental issues in manufacturing, advocating for the right to repair, and investing in products that are made to last are a few key ways we can reduce our overall consumption of electronics.

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[jakek.]

Y’all remember Nokias? They still work perfectly. We’ve had this tech since the 90s

[mikopiko]

Making durable electronics with longer lifetime was never impossible, it is just that companies saw a higher profit by using planned obsolesce. And we, the consumers proved it by keep purchasing newer devices when we didn't need to.

[rawbacon]

Well it's the tech companies that cause me to get new old Vista computer worked just fine but they won't give security updates so that makes it impossible to do business online....You'll go to buy something and they tell you that you can't use this outdated browser on their site but I can't update to the new problem with my phone, probably less than 2 years and they were telling me that my phone was going to be incompatible with the new "Cell System" and I need to replace it....4 years now and I ignored them and my phone still works fine.

[Raiken]

The GPS trick was using by an CBC investigative group to track Amazon returns. That was an interesting video to watch.

[TheTarrMan]

You guys really should have contacted Louis Rossmann. . . . . or atleast ask to use some of his footage. I'm sure he wouldn't have a problem.

[freeamerican]

There is no reason why they can't grade your software remotely and should be able to swap out the battery ourselves and this reduce the waste. But people are so materialistic in this country 🇺🇲

[joestrbo]

This is great, but no ones going to leave their Apple or Android products. The biggest issue is lack of education on how things actually work and majority of the population would rather throw their devices out and get a new one than fix it. We don't see where our waste goes and we don't really know what happens to it and most don't care. You could change more minds if people actually knew what was happening and the amount of $ wasted (maybe..). This goes for the same on how we slaughter animals for food. Lack of education and caring. Too much of the "out of sight, out of mind" mentality.

[maddymahool]

If anyone knows how to recycle e-waste in Mumbai, India, lemme know. I have always kept all my ewaste aside coz I was always confused where to dispose it -_-

[grenishsinxRgold]

I can't fathom someone throwing away a two to three year old phone or electronics. I guess it depends on how it's manufactured and used. But quite many (sadly not a lot) of people can use the same electronic device for six or seven years before it gives way.

[TheSensationalMr.Science]

there was actually a phone system named BLOCKS by google, but they scrapped it. this would have allowed for less e-waste by making modules to the phone which could be replaced, hence generating less e-waste overall. but then they would have had problems tracking us if we could just get rid of the camera, wouldn't they?

[analarson]

Planned obsolescence should've illegal so consumers get what they really want, a better world and products.

[MacMomo-dfrj]

Look up Fairphone! Really cool company

[Famin]

I understand. why the ARA project was terminated

[DarkGT]

It's disturbing to see all of that trash pile up in some third world country and the people making living scavenging them. There was similar report from other media that show African village polluted from e-waste and the river some decades ago that was able to provide food for the people...and it's all gone, just trash.

[BriefNerdOriginal]

... and happy new gear :-) (recycling songs)

[gachaponer]

It's not helping when tech companies "force" consumers to upgrade by ending software updates and making them obsolete.

But at the same time, older tech may not be able to handle newer updates so consumers are forced to upgrade regardless.

And of course having the newest, fastest and most expensive device is a great way to show off so....

[JamesVestal-dzqm]

I feel like there's a problem with disposable electronics. People buy a new computer or phone every few years, but we have the potential to make computers and phones that last decades!

[laughingvampire]

do you remember project ARA from Google? the goal was to make an up-gradable smartphone with blocks, and Sundar Pichai cancelled the project. What we need is really a law that forces companies to make the change in all of the industry.

Don't forget about Fairphone.

Capitalism is participatory democracy and based on that consumers don't want repairable devices, we need to bring conscience to everyone not just corporations, if the consumers vote with their dollar and cut money supply to companies and make our voices heard, in huge numbers then companies will change faster than with a law mandate.

Making hardware last longer also requires making superior software and superior hardware design.

[kaw]

Our society is absolutely capable of producing a modular, upgradable and repairable cell phone. Greed prevents that reality, not customers.

[fergalfarrelly]

Blockchain supply chains and tokenization of real work assets. Again blockchain is the answer. Blockchain can potentially end coruption world wide. Replace corrupt officials with smart contracts.