Electronics are effecting our health and our planet
Wearable tech, mountains of e-waste and unsustainable internet energy use suggest it might be time to take another look at our addiction before buying the latest new gadget.
The arrival of the Apple watch last month is part of the wearable tech trend that ignores concerns about health effects of devices on the human body. We are throwing away more fully functional electronics than ever before. Enter any Hong Kong household after the lights are out and you will likely see a twinkling of green and blue and red lights as chargers draw energy for smart phones, tablets and other devices we think we can’t live without.
– $19bn e-waste black market ‘threatening the planet’
– World’s E-Waste to Grow 33% by 2017
– Illegally shipping and dumping electronic waste
– Planned obsolescence pervasive in digital age
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Recycling Programme
Each year, Hong Kong households and corporates throw away more than 70 thousand tonnes of computers and electrical and electronic equipment. Some of these items are still in good working condition and could be put to second-hand use. All of them contain components and materials that could be recovered for reuse and recycling, such as metals and plastics” wastereduction.gov.hk
A Pocketed Cellphone May Be Behind Your Infertility – read article
Almost 200 scientists and academics from over three dozen countries have issued a letter calling for the United Nations, World Health Organization and governments around the world to tighten regulations around electro-magnetic field (EMF) exposure coming from handheld devices.” investmentwatchblog.com
Building The Green Internet – read article
The Internet needs a lot of electricity and its footprint is only growing as more people around the world get connected. If coal, gas and nuclear power fuels all of that digital growth, it will lock the world’s new digital economy into the polluting energy of yesterday” huffingtonpost.com
The issue of e-waste is addressed in courses such as Green Economics at CityU
As the landfills in Hong Kong are soon being overloaded and the developing countries need less e-waste for boosting their economies, disposing methods, sites become great concern of e-waste issues, which the Hong Kong people should pay extra attention on.” E-waste in Hong Kong, CityU Students 2013
Here are a few places in Hong Kong to recycle your electronics
– How and where to recycle waste electrical and electronic equipment
– Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment
– Electronics Recycling International Limited
– EcoPark
Other options …
– Crossroads International
– Hong Kong Recycles
– WhoGotStuff
– Second Hand Exchange
– St James Settlement
Cover photo by Kinzie
