Pollution and Waste
Definition
E-Waste
Waste and garbage of electronic devices.
Recycling and waste management
- Digital technologies contribute to pollution and waste in various ways, but they can also play a role in recycling and waste management.
- Environmental protection is commonly based on recycling.
- Recycling: The process of reusing waste as materials and tools.
E-waste dumping: Countries like Ghana and India receive large amounts of e-waste from developed nations, leading to environmental and health hazards.
Types of Pollution
Definition
Pollution
Reckless waste of substances that leads to negative environmental impacts.
Pollution can be divided into several types:
- Air Pollution
- Water Pollution
- Noise Pollution
- Solid Pollution
- Light Pollution
Light and noise pollution occur when technologies use excessive light and noise that negatively impact the environment.
Techniques that influence environments
- Planned Obsolescence: Intentionally making a product that has a short lifespan so that customers would have to make purchases commonly.
- Green Computing: A field of science researching how digital technologies may reduce their negative environmental impact.
Smartphone upgrades: Companies release new models annually, making older devices incompatible with software updates. This is an example of planned obsolescence.
Self review- What are the main types of pollution caused by digital technologies?
- How can green computing reduce the environmental impact of digital devices?
- What are the challenges and benefits of recycling e-waste?
To what extent should companies be held accountable for the environmental impact of their products?
