Solutions to the E-waste Pollution Problem in Guiyu
Neonates in Guiyu, the largest e-waste processing center in China, showed significantly higher rates of adverse birth outcomes such as preterm delivery, still-births and low birth weight (Li & Wang, 2012). It does not appear as a coincidence but the result of the excess level of heavy metals (Li & Wang, 2012). E-waste stands for electronic and electrical waste, which always contains heavy metals and non-biodegradable organics (Thompson, 2012). Due to weak government management and incorrect individual values, the majority of the e-waste in Guiyu is disposed in a rudimentary way, posing high risk to ecological environment and residents. To protect residents’ lives from e-waste pollution, collective actions from stakeholders could be taken, including setting up a government e-waste controlling department in Guiyu, promoting education through NGOs and
…show more content…
As the saying goes, only by starting with the source can one solve the problem thoroughly. Once the lifetime of an individual device is lengthened, the amount of e-waste will be dropped significantly. It might help solve the problem from the sources. However, consumption is always the original motivation of technology advancing. Thus, decreased consumption might slow down the speed of technology development.
To conclude, e-waste pollution problem in Guiyu does need more social concerns and collective actions from stakeholders since ecological environment and residents’ lives deserve priority compared with economic development. Setting up a government controlling department and promoting educations through NGOS could not solve the problem substantially but flourish in a short term. Nevertheless, enhanced manufacture designs could play an important role in the longstanding plan. Hopefully, the e-waste pollution problem can really be solved in the foreseeable
This is comparable to how individuals nowadays seek to associate themselves with others with a good image to improve their own. The process of transporting more technological devices can result in a more damaged world. Jennifer Okafor discusses in her article, “Negative Impact of Technology on the Environment”, that “Manufacturers require massive energy to turn them into the complex electronic, technological products we use. Transportation of these products worldwide, by planes and automobiles, also contributes to the greenhouse effect responsible for global warming and air pollution”.(more explanation) Too much technology increases the need for electricity, which raises energy consumption.
STRENGTHS: 1. Close relationships with customers and geographical proximity of supply network makes it easy to adapt promptly and flexibility as per the customers on-going changing needs. As ToolsCorp’s supply management rely on the large retailers locally, it enables to reach to the customer easily and build close relationships with the customers. 2. The company offer the wide range of products to cater the needs of different segments of customers as per their different households needs.
Pico Iyer’s “The Joy of Quiet” article in the New York Times begins with the awareness of the effects of Internet infested electronics. Acknowledging that the technology available to individuals today can be helpful, he also mentions the effects of it can be quite dramatic. For instance, Iyer explains how a night at Post Ranch Inn will charge customers extra just to receive a room with no television. Individuals have to force themselves to peel away and distract themselves from their devices with things that may not even pertain to their interests. While being so preoccupied with what’s going on in the world or with what friends are doing, individuals overlook the fact that they are not focusing on the essential– living life.
Reading this essay has made me more aware of how wasteful we all can be. It goes into detail of what we waste and how often. If we know a way we can “waste not” we should make that change and encourage our loved ones to do the same. It starts with us. Take in consideration the time and things used when building your new home, go paperless when given the option and always remember it 's never too late to make a change.
This is a problem for the Chinese citizens and the Chinese government. The cost of pollution is large as it is approaching “10 percent of gross domestic product per years over the last decade” which is several times higher than other
Other options for organisations are by reducing waste in the workplace through reuse and recycling efforts that have a positive impact on the environment. Less office waste means less trash in landfills. Recycling paper, aluminium cans, ink cartridges and even office machinery and equipment can help reduce the global environmental impact of consumer consumption. Other options, such as composting, can reduce waste even further. Organisations may be able to generate extra revenue by selling aluminium or machinery as scrap
Complex Problems Assignment In this class, we have explored many of America’s industrially provoked environmental catastrophes, such as the Cuyahoga River fires, the national depletion of bee populations, and the catastrophic death of citizens in Donora, Pennsylvania due to uninhabitable pollution. If we had not achieved the level of economic prosperity derived from our previous era of industrialization, the rehabilitation and conservation of these disaster sites would not be possible. Economic growth has allowed Americans to have the money and resources to focus on the environment and educate citizens on the importance of preserving nature.
Chris Carroll a staff writer for National Geographic decided to find out where used electronics end up. In his essay, “High Tech Trash,” Carroll describes the horrid condition In Ghana, China, where poor areas like Ghana are the popular dumping grounds for “e-waste.” e-waste is old technology that we no longer have use for, and ends up in dumps. Carroll describes the condition in which people scrap our old waste by tearing apart old devices and burning away flame retardants so they can make a profit. “Choking, I pull my shirt over my nose and approach a boy about 15, his thin frame wreathed in smoke” (Carroll 79).
Meanwhile, the methods of waste disposal have improved over time. Also, that getting rid of garbage is quickly becoming a big problem due to our methods of waste disposal are only a temporary solution. Moreover; the waste that can’t decompose
“Food waste is an atrocity that is reducible, if not completely avoidable.” -Stephen Hough a famous composer once said. Food is a precious item many people do not have access to. Yes, you may have a surplus amount of food, but one should think about how much of that food do you waste. That food could go to the poor, unassuming and haggard people in society.
According to the Environmental Education Programme of Richland City, United States, an average US resident owns about two button batteries, ten disposable alkaline batteries, and disposes of about eight household batteries annually. The study of EEP was conducted in 2003, which was twelve years ago. The world population in 2003 was approximately 6 billion, according to the World Population Data Sheet. If the amount of batteries disposed by the entire world population during that year were to be computed, it would be an overwhelming amount of solid waste with detrimental effects to the environment and on humans as well. The current global battery disposal would be expected to be much worse because of population growth.
Industrial and capital hubs in developing countries are similarly characterized by multiple urban sprawls, informal settlements and overcrowding. The local governments or municipalities in many developing countries are highly challenged by mainly poor or weak policy and legislative provisions to regulate and enforce waste management guidelines. They also lack adequate funding and the correct capacity in terms of waste management personnel. All these challenges lead to situations where these local authorities are failing to take effective decisions with regards to solid waste management. It is worth noting that the decisions which municipalities are facing in terms of managing solid waste are not only difficult and capital intensive but they impact greatly on the natural environment as well as on social lives of people, therefore solutions to this issue are a matter of
Introduction People tend to consume a lot, when there is consumption, there is waste – and that waste becomes a big problem that needs taken care of, which costs a lot of time, space and resources. If not managed, in turn, the world that we live in will become a hazardous place for all living things. According to the World Bank, people throughout the world, “spend $2.3 trillion a year on food and beverages alone” (Global Consumption Database, 2018), that is quite a lot. In addition to that, the world count mentions that, “we throw out over 50 tons of household waste every second. A number that will double by 2030”
THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH Technology is a major part of everyone’s life. Technological advances are encountered at home, school and at work. These technological advances have become so helpful to people lives. Every year new technologies appear to help people to live more comfortable by allowing them to do more with less effort. That’s why expressions such as “I do not know what I would do without the washing machine” or “I could not live without my cell phone” are heard more frequently.
Environmental issues began to be discussed and debated only towards the end of the 20th century. Since then significant amount of literature has been penned down raising awareness about issues of pollution, deforestation, animal rights and several others however it has failed to result in major changes, ideas or even actions to save the environment. Several species of animals have become extinct; pollution level is at an all-time high, global warming is leading to severe climate changes all across the globe but these problems do not seem to alarm the decision makers. Leydier & Martin (2013) also states that, “despite the increasing expression of concern in political and media debates about issues such as climate change, pollution and threats