I searched using the terms:
- "PC waste and its effects on the environment"
- "environmental effects of e-waste"
The websites I found most helpful were:
I thought the first website included good information about what kinds of chemicals and toxins are harmful to the environment and humans, but what really drew me into the first website was its video. I thought the video was concise and to the point about how computers can affect humans and where the parts actually go. Where I don't think it will be as helpful determining which computer parts specifically harm humans or the environment, I think we will definitely want to use a video like this one in our presentation. This organization stands for "technology for people group" and they are a small recycling group that was put together in 2008. They recycle and refurbish computer parts and want to help start the movement toward making ethical decisions with electronic waste. I think it is a good starting point and like I said, the main attraction was their concise video that could be helpful later on.
The second website I thought was more helpful in determining the effects on human health when electronics are not properly recycled. It offered a well organized chart of the element that is harmful and what its affects could be. With this, we would first look up what elements are in which computer part, and then determine if that computer part has one of these harmful elements in it. "Recycling for Charities" is a nonprofit organization that allows for people to recycle their electronic parts as donations, and then those donations will continue on to a charity of the donators choice. This organization doesn't recycle computer parts, but the elements they list and their effects are the same as what you might find in the computer parts we are analyzing.
The second site gives a great outline of the individual elements that can be harmful and their affects. But it address the social impacts of them. The video on the first site does a better job of this. But still could delve a little deeper. I think it would be awesome if we could use the video as part of the presentation if we have time. It would give the class an easy introduction t a topic they may be unfamiliar with.
ReplyDeleteCombined, both websites are great addressing the effects of the toxic chemicals and where they eventually end up. This was very important to address in our presentation as it showed that the US and some other 1st world countries are just exporting problems elsewhere.
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