The constant growth of consumerism across the globe has resulted in a serious issue of waste. Particularly, the accumulation of e-waste or electronic waste in the past two decades has increased exponentially due to the high demand for newer, more advanced devices. Not only this, but the life span of electronic devices is becoming increasingly shorter despite the advancements, requiring consumers to upgrade more frequently. In 2016, the world had amassed 49 million tons of electronic waste ranging anywhere from handheld smartphones to microwave ovens. The largest technology companies in the world such as Apple, Microsoft, Samsung, etc. intentionally design their products and softwares to have an expiration date which, in turn, forces customers to buy new products.
The development of the 5G network, also known as the fifth-generation wireless network, is going to put a major dent in the total amount of electronic waste we have globally. 5G is said to be up to 100 times faster than any other wireless network to date and corporations are working to make a quick transition. In a 2019 interview with Time magazine, John Shegerian, the co-founder and executive chairman of the Electronic Recyclers International stated, “I don’t think people understand the magnitude of the transition, this is bigger than the change of black-and-white to color, bigger than analog to digital, by many multitudes.” Because of the many benefits of this new network, companies have begun to develop devices that exclusively work with 5G networks. This will leave all devices incompatible with the fifth-generation wireless network to be outdated, useless and in the end electronic waste. Despite the help of companies such as the Electronic Recyclers International, still less than a fourth of technology is recycled around the world meaning that the remaining waste goes to the landfill.
When technology is not properly recycled and ends up in landfills, the toxic metals within can negatively impact the surrounding environment. When these tech products are burned, cancer-causing dioxins are released into the atmosphere. Toxic chemicals have the potential to also leak into the soil and water networks through landfills, which all ultimately lead to serious negative effects on human health. Therefore, the more we continue to buy new products, the greater potential for toxic e-waste and environmental damage.
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