As we adapt to a rapidly changing lifestyle that include improvement in technology and the way we communicate, just about everyone and their grandmothers have accepted that mobile phones are here to stay. With the average person getting a new phone every 18 months, the numbers have been adding up and the e-waste epidemic is becoming critical.
While some companies such as All Green Electronics Recycling responsibly recycle e-waste, other not-so environmentally conscious recyclers ship their e-waste oversees to developing nations and third world countries.
It’s unfortunate to see just how damaging our cell phone usage is to the rest of the world. Many of these developing countries such as Ghana, have no real say in whether the technology comes in or not. Their only solution is to burn the equipment. Doing so in the process, they dig through the mountains of rubble to mine precious metals to then sell and make money.
The toxic substances that people are exposed to cause a myriad of health issues from permanent neurological damage, to reproductive disorders and cancer. It’s time to bring awareness to this issue so we can start responsibly recycling our e-waste and taking responsibility for what we create.
Very informative article to read. There seems to be more people going thru trash for items to sell for money because of poverty. People need to be aware of the dangers of our trash