Environmental Issues: E-waste, Energy Consumption, and Conflict Minerals

This lesson covers the environmental impact of technology, as required by OCR J277 Section 1.6. While technology provides enormous benefits, its production, use, and disposal have significant environmental consequences.

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E-waste (Electronic Waste)

E-waste (electronic waste) refers to discarded electronic devices and equipment, including computers, smartphones, tablets, monitors, printers, and other electronic items.

The Scale of the Problem

Fact	Detail
Global e-waste	Over 60 million tonnes of e-waste is generated worldwide each year
UK e-waste	The UK produces approximately 1.6 million tonnes of e-waste per year
Growth rate	E-waste is the fastest growing waste stream in the world
Recycling rate	Only about 20% of global e-waste is formally recycled

Why Is E-waste a Problem?

Issue	Explanation
Toxic materials	Electronics contain lead, mercury, cadmium, and other hazardous substances that contaminate soil and water
Landfill	E-waste in landfill sites leaches toxic chemicals into the environment
Informal recycling	In developing countries, e-waste is often processed by burning or acid baths, releasing toxic fumes
Resource waste	Valuable materials (gold, silver, copper, rare earth metals) are lost when electronics are not recycled
Short product lifecycles	Rapid technology upgrades mean devices are replaced frequently

What Causes E-waste?

Cause	Explanation
Planned obsolescence	Manufacturers design products to become outdated or break after a certain period
Software updates	Older devices may not support new software, forcing upgrades
Consumer culture	Marketing encourages buying the latest models even when existing devices work
Difficulty of repair	Many devices are designed to be difficult or impossible to repair
Falling prices	Cheap electronics are treated as disposable

Solutions to E-waste

Solution	Detail
Recycling	Proper recycling recovers valuable materials and prevents toxic contamination
Refurbishment	Extending the life of devices by repairing and reselling them
Right to repair	Legislation requiring manufacturers to make devices repairable
Responsible disposal	Using certified e-waste recyclers rather than landfill
Sustainable design	Designing devices that are modular, repairable, and use recycled materials
Take-back schemes	Manufacturers accepting old devices for recycling when new ones are purchased

OCR Exam Tip: E-waste questions often ask about the environmental impact and solutions. Always mention specific toxic materials (lead, mercury) and specific solutions (recycling, refurbishment, right to repair). Saying "recycle electronics" alone is too vague for full marks.

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Energy Consumption

The technology industry is a significant consumer of energy, contributing to carbon emissions and climate change.

Major Sources of Energy Consumption