#plannedobsolescence — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #plannedobsolescence, aggregated by home.social.
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AUKUS is dead in the water!
#china #australia #ausgov #usa #uk #aukus #plannedobsolescence
https://fincom.substack.com/p/finding-nemo -
AUKUS is dead in the water!
#china #australia #ausgov #usa #uk #aukus #plannedobsolescence
https://fincom.substack.com/p/finding-nemo -
AUKUS is dead in the water!
#china #australia #ausgov #usa #uk #aukus #plannedobsolescence
https://fincom.substack.com/p/finding-nemo -
AUKUS is dead in the water!
#china #australia #ausgov #usa #uk #aukus #plannedobsolescence
https://fincom.substack.com/p/finding-nemo -
Science has gone to far... so we are trying to bring things back to order...
@FahrradkuecheGraz#cargobike #DIY #repair #bikekitchen #cycling #welding #bullit #plannedobsolescence #bike #cycling #framebuilding #e-mobilityisalie
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Now imagine a company that said, «yes, after 5 years of intensive in-house use, we can assert with confidence that this is a good laptop. We are now pushing it out into production, is available for purchase.»
Now imagine that was mandated by law as part of both repairability and durability requirements, sending "planned obsolescence" into oblivion.
Frankly, that's how it should be. For clothes, washing machines, cars, anything that is manufactured and has a limited lifetime, yet shouldn't, or, its lifetime should be counted in decades, even in generations. Consumer society is only consuming ourselves and the planet we so dearly depend on.
Would the cost raise? On paper, no: would only be pushed some years into the future. In practice, the lack of a short-term incentive would prevent any laptop from being manufactured at all, so the cost might as well be infinite.
One wonders what can be done that is practical and implementable now to tame the madness and bring into the cost all the externalities – the latter should be the only source of additional costs, and would be minimized the longer the lifetime of a product is.
#ConsumerSociety #PlannedObsolescence #ConsumerMarket #externalities
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#ToxicWaste from screens ends up in endangered #dolphins, study finds
Gene-altering chemicals found in humpback dolphins and finless porpoises, raising alarm they may end up in human food chain
by Tara Russell
Wed 25 Feb 2026 08.00 ESTExcerpt: " 'The presence of #LCMs in their brains is a major red flag,' He said. 'If these chemicals can cross the blood-brain barrier in dolphins, we must be concerned about the potential for similar effects in humans who are exposed through contaminated seafood or even drinking water.'
"#ElectronicWaste is a growing problem around the world, with 62m tonnes of it generated each year. The main culprit is '#FastTech' – cheap and often poorly manufactured items viewed as disposable, including devices that use LCMs.
"To reduce the damage, the researchers said people should try to extend the life of their #electronics through #repairs and disposing of them using certified #EWaste recycling methods."
Archived version:
https://archive.ph/cVdai#RepairReuseRestore #EWaste #Pollution #OceansAreLife #WaterIsLife #RepairCafes #RightToRepair #PlannedObsolescence #CheapElectronics #LCDs
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From the #MaineDEP: Reduce Waste with #RepairClinics
A Community Guide to Organizing a Repair Clinic
What is a repair clinic?
A repair clinic (also known as a #RepairCafe or #FixIt Clinic) is an event where community members get together to share knowledge and fix things. They’ve been described as an activity that is 'both for and by neighbors.'
What do you repair?
Depending on local expertise, items may include clothing, electronics, appliances, bicycles, furniture, and much more.
Waste reduction starts with repairRepair gives old belongings new life.
Repair clinics help your community reduce waste by making broken things usable again and keeping them out of the trash.
How to get started
• Locate and invite subject matter experts in the community
• Recruit volunteers to help plan, organize, and get the word out about the upcoming repair clinic
• Locate and gather appropriate tools and parts
• See if hardware and bicycle shops or other local businesses can offer spare parts for sale or an expert volunteer from their staffFind the right venue
• Libraries, community centers, town halls, faith centers, or schools are generally affordable, accessible, and familiar
• The facility should have electricity with ample outlets to plug into, adequate space, tables, plenty of parking, running water, and bathrooms—a kitchen is a bonus if available
• Donations can help cover repair clinic costsRecruit skilled help
Scout out local electricians, carpenters, plumbers, metalworkers, furniture makers, tailors, and technical school students when recruiting volunteers. Experts can generate good publicity for their business or institution just by donating a few hours of time to share their skills.
Get the word out
Volunteers can help spread the word about the upcoming repair clinic. Hang fliers in the library, restaurants, coffee shops, town hall, and other favorite gathering spots, post notices on local social media groups, and tell friends and neighbors. Have contact information on all notices so people can reach out with questions or to volunteer.
Set some guidelines
• Visitors should do as much of their own repair as possible—they will learn a new skill and may even be able to pass it on to someone else in the future.
• A repair clinic is not a professional repair business and volunteers and community organizers:
- Have the right to refuse to repair something
- Will not be held responsible for an unsuccessful repair
- Will not be held liable in the event of an accident or injury
• Visitors are responsible for their own stuff and must remove everything they brought with them.Legal and safety measures
Prepare a release form and ensure you have plenty of copies at the repair clinic for visitors to sign. Release forms
contain house rules so visitors understand that not everything can be fixed, and organizers and repairers are
not liable for damage or injury. Collect and store a form signed by each attendee. Some venues have public liability insurance to provide additional coverage for your event.Having a certified first-aid volunteer at the repair clinic adds another important safety measure.
View release form examples at the links below:
• https://repaircafe.org/en/house-rules
• https://ppld.org/sites/default/files/policies/repaircafeguidelines.pdf (link opens a PDF)
• http://www.cvswmd.org/uploads/6/1/2/6/6126179/repair_cafe_house_rules.pdf (link opens a PDF)Running the event—the basics
• Accept donations to help pay for event costs
• Coffee, tea, and snacks will be welcome—charge a reasonable fee to cover refreshment costs
• Set up repair stations for different categories of stuff, each staffed with a repair expert
• Have visitors check in
• Ensure each visitor signs a release form and understands the terms
• Direct each visitor to the appropriate repair stationAdditional resources for a successful repair clinic
• The Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District Repair toolkit includes a detailed planning
guide, a release form template, sample outreach materials and much more.
- View toolkit: http://www.cvswmd.org/repair-cafe-tool-kit.html
• Learn more about hosting repair events from the organization that started the trend, located in the Netherlands. They offer a repair café starter kit for a fee (name your own price).
- Visit Repair Cafe website: https://repaircafe.org/en/about/Source:
https://www.maine.gov/dep/waste/recycle/documents/starting-a-repair-clinic.pdf
#RightToRepair #RepairCafesMaine #Maine #DIY #RepairCafé #FixIt #SolarPunkSunday #RepairCafes #PlannedObsolescence -
My work computer has a "flash drive" (not my choice). I constantly back up critical files, because I don't trust them. I always say, "Your files will be gone in a flash!" Personally, I prefer old school hard drives -- the ones you can fix by hitting them with a tiny hammer!
You're not imagining things – #USB #MemorySticks are getting worse
Story by Dan Robinson
February 7, 2024"A German data recovery specialist has confirmed what many Reg readers will have suspected: USB memory sticks are getting less reliable. The cause, as you might have guessed, is inferior memory chips, while the move to storing multiple bits per flash cell also plays a part.…
"CBL Data Recovery posted that the quality of newer memory components in microSD and USB sticks is declining, and it reported that USB sticks where the NAND manufacturer's logo had been removed from the chip are increasingly turning up in its data recovery laboratory.
"It suspects that flash chips from manufacturers such as SK hynix, Sandisk or Samsung that fail quality control checks are being resold into the market, but marked as components with lower memory capacities.
"'When we opened defective USB sticks last year, we found an alarming number of inferior memory chips with reduced capacity and the manufacturer's logo removed from the chip,' wrote CBL Managing Director Conrad Heinicke (translated from German).
"Heinicke said that many of the USB sticks actually contained microSD cards that had been mounted onto the circuit board and were being managed by an external controller chip. While USB sticks like this were mostly promotional gifts, he said, there were also branded products among them, adding: 'You shouldn't rely too much on the reliability of flash memory.'
"Heinicke's view is that the adoption of multi-level cell architectures, where a single memory cell is coaxed into storing more than just a single bit by varying the voltage, has also exacerbated the situation. With quad level cells (QLC), for example, four bits are stored per cell, which means that 16 states have to be distinguished.
"This path was chosen by the NAND flash manufacturers because it delivers greater storage density, which means higher capacity drives and lower costs per GB. But it also has implications for the endurance, or longevity of the cells. In other words, the cells wear out faster the more bits they are used to store.
"'The downside of success in increasing storage density: writability (endurance) and storage capacity (retention) decrease,' he wrote. "This means that the number of maximum possible write-read cycles decreases and the risk increases that the charge differences, which are read as bits, can no longer be read due to the aging of the insulation layer that holds these charges.'
"According to our sister site Blocks & Files, a single-level cell supports around 100,000 cycles while a (2-bit) MLC cell wears out after around 10,000 cycles, a triple-level cell is limited to 3,000 cycles and QLC supports about 1,200. Upcoming penta-level cells (5 bits per cell) are likely to have less than 600 cycles.
"'Even with high-quality memory chips, the effort that manufacturers have to put into error correction mechanisms in the controller is enormous. It is not surprising that data loss occurs with USB sticks containing decommissioned chips,' Heinicke states.
"He posted a few tips for flash users. If you frequently write and delete data on USB sticks, such as when using them as backup devices, for example, you should use several sticks in rotation.
"If #FlashMedia is to be used to store anything for an extended period, use high-quality storage hardware, and keep it somewhere cool, as high temperatures may accelerate data loss.
"Flash storage should be accessed annually or semi-annually, as this allows the error correction mechanisms to internally copy "fading" data, and devices should not be filled to capacity – leaving unallocated space allows the internal data maintenance and error correction mechanisms to function longer."
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My work computer has a "flash drive" (not my choice). I constantly back up critical files, because I don't trust them. I always say, "Your files will be gone in a flash!" Personally, I prefer old school hard drives -- the ones you can fix by hitting them with a tiny hammer!
You're not imagining things – #USB #MemorySticks are getting worse
Story by Dan Robinson
February 7, 2024"A German data recovery specialist has confirmed what many Reg readers will have suspected: USB memory sticks are getting less reliable. The cause, as you might have guessed, is inferior memory chips, while the move to storing multiple bits per flash cell also plays a part.…
"CBL Data Recovery posted that the quality of newer memory components in microSD and USB sticks is declining, and it reported that USB sticks where the NAND manufacturer's logo had been removed from the chip are increasingly turning up in its data recovery laboratory.
"It suspects that flash chips from manufacturers such as SK hynix, Sandisk or Samsung that fail quality control checks are being resold into the market, but marked as components with lower memory capacities.
"'When we opened defective USB sticks last year, we found an alarming number of inferior memory chips with reduced capacity and the manufacturer's logo removed from the chip,' wrote CBL Managing Director Conrad Heinicke (translated from German).
"Heinicke said that many of the USB sticks actually contained microSD cards that had been mounted onto the circuit board and were being managed by an external controller chip. While USB sticks like this were mostly promotional gifts, he said, there were also branded products among them, adding: 'You shouldn't rely too much on the reliability of flash memory.'
"Heinicke's view is that the adoption of multi-level cell architectures, where a single memory cell is coaxed into storing more than just a single bit by varying the voltage, has also exacerbated the situation. With quad level cells (QLC), for example, four bits are stored per cell, which means that 16 states have to be distinguished.
"This path was chosen by the NAND flash manufacturers because it delivers greater storage density, which means higher capacity drives and lower costs per GB. But it also has implications for the endurance, or longevity of the cells. In other words, the cells wear out faster the more bits they are used to store.
"'The downside of success in increasing storage density: writability (endurance) and storage capacity (retention) decrease,' he wrote. "This means that the number of maximum possible write-read cycles decreases and the risk increases that the charge differences, which are read as bits, can no longer be read due to the aging of the insulation layer that holds these charges.'
"According to our sister site Blocks & Files, a single-level cell supports around 100,000 cycles while a (2-bit) MLC cell wears out after around 10,000 cycles, a triple-level cell is limited to 3,000 cycles and QLC supports about 1,200. Upcoming penta-level cells (5 bits per cell) are likely to have less than 600 cycles.
"'Even with high-quality memory chips, the effort that manufacturers have to put into error correction mechanisms in the controller is enormous. It is not surprising that data loss occurs with USB sticks containing decommissioned chips,' Heinicke states.
"He posted a few tips for flash users. If you frequently write and delete data on USB sticks, such as when using them as backup devices, for example, you should use several sticks in rotation.
"If #FlashMedia is to be used to store anything for an extended period, use high-quality storage hardware, and keep it somewhere cool, as high temperatures may accelerate data loss.
"Flash storage should be accessed annually or semi-annually, as this allows the error correction mechanisms to internally copy "fading" data, and devices should not be filled to capacity – leaving unallocated space allows the internal data maintenance and error correction mechanisms to function longer."
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My work computer has a "flash drive" (not my choice). I constantly back up critical files, because I don't trust them. I always say, "Your files will be gone in a flash!" Personally, I prefer old school hard drives -- the ones you can fix by hitting them with a tiny hammer!
You're not imagining things – #USB #MemorySticks are getting worse
Story by Dan Robinson
February 7, 2024"A German data recovery specialist has confirmed what many Reg readers will have suspected: USB memory sticks are getting less reliable. The cause, as you might have guessed, is inferior memory chips, while the move to storing multiple bits per flash cell also plays a part.…
"CBL Data Recovery posted that the quality of newer memory components in microSD and USB sticks is declining, and it reported that USB sticks where the NAND manufacturer's logo had been removed from the chip are increasingly turning up in its data recovery laboratory.
"It suspects that flash chips from manufacturers such as SK hynix, Sandisk or Samsung that fail quality control checks are being resold into the market, but marked as components with lower memory capacities.
"'When we opened defective USB sticks last year, we found an alarming number of inferior memory chips with reduced capacity and the manufacturer's logo removed from the chip,' wrote CBL Managing Director Conrad Heinicke (translated from German).
"Heinicke said that many of the USB sticks actually contained microSD cards that had been mounted onto the circuit board and were being managed by an external controller chip. While USB sticks like this were mostly promotional gifts, he said, there were also branded products among them, adding: 'You shouldn't rely too much on the reliability of flash memory.'
"Heinicke's view is that the adoption of multi-level cell architectures, where a single memory cell is coaxed into storing more than just a single bit by varying the voltage, has also exacerbated the situation. With quad level cells (QLC), for example, four bits are stored per cell, which means that 16 states have to be distinguished.
"This path was chosen by the NAND flash manufacturers because it delivers greater storage density, which means higher capacity drives and lower costs per GB. But it also has implications for the endurance, or longevity of the cells. In other words, the cells wear out faster the more bits they are used to store.
"'The downside of success in increasing storage density: writability (endurance) and storage capacity (retention) decrease,' he wrote. "This means that the number of maximum possible write-read cycles decreases and the risk increases that the charge differences, which are read as bits, can no longer be read due to the aging of the insulation layer that holds these charges.'
"According to our sister site Blocks & Files, a single-level cell supports around 100,000 cycles while a (2-bit) MLC cell wears out after around 10,000 cycles, a triple-level cell is limited to 3,000 cycles and QLC supports about 1,200. Upcoming penta-level cells (5 bits per cell) are likely to have less than 600 cycles.
"'Even with high-quality memory chips, the effort that manufacturers have to put into error correction mechanisms in the controller is enormous. It is not surprising that data loss occurs with USB sticks containing decommissioned chips,' Heinicke states.
"He posted a few tips for flash users. If you frequently write and delete data on USB sticks, such as when using them as backup devices, for example, you should use several sticks in rotation.
"If #FlashMedia is to be used to store anything for an extended period, use high-quality storage hardware, and keep it somewhere cool, as high temperatures may accelerate data loss.
"Flash storage should be accessed annually or semi-annually, as this allows the error correction mechanisms to internally copy "fading" data, and devices should not be filled to capacity – leaving unallocated space allows the internal data maintenance and error correction mechanisms to function longer."
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My work computer has a "flash drive" (not my choice). I constantly back up critical files, because I don't trust them. I always say, "Your files will be gone in a flash!" Personally, I prefer old school hard drives -- the ones you can fix by hitting them with a tiny hammer!
You're not imagining things – #USB #MemorySticks are getting worse
Story by Dan Robinson
February 7, 2024"A German data recovery specialist has confirmed what many Reg readers will have suspected: USB memory sticks are getting less reliable. The cause, as you might have guessed, is inferior memory chips, while the move to storing multiple bits per flash cell also plays a part.…
"CBL Data Recovery posted that the quality of newer memory components in microSD and USB sticks is declining, and it reported that USB sticks where the NAND manufacturer's logo had been removed from the chip are increasingly turning up in its data recovery laboratory.
"It suspects that flash chips from manufacturers such as SK hynix, Sandisk or Samsung that fail quality control checks are being resold into the market, but marked as components with lower memory capacities.
"'When we opened defective USB sticks last year, we found an alarming number of inferior memory chips with reduced capacity and the manufacturer's logo removed from the chip,' wrote CBL Managing Director Conrad Heinicke (translated from German).
"Heinicke said that many of the USB sticks actually contained microSD cards that had been mounted onto the circuit board and were being managed by an external controller chip. While USB sticks like this were mostly promotional gifts, he said, there were also branded products among them, adding: 'You shouldn't rely too much on the reliability of flash memory.'
"Heinicke's view is that the adoption of multi-level cell architectures, where a single memory cell is coaxed into storing more than just a single bit by varying the voltage, has also exacerbated the situation. With quad level cells (QLC), for example, four bits are stored per cell, which means that 16 states have to be distinguished.
"This path was chosen by the NAND flash manufacturers because it delivers greater storage density, which means higher capacity drives and lower costs per GB. But it also has implications for the endurance, or longevity of the cells. In other words, the cells wear out faster the more bits they are used to store.
"'The downside of success in increasing storage density: writability (endurance) and storage capacity (retention) decrease,' he wrote. "This means that the number of maximum possible write-read cycles decreases and the risk increases that the charge differences, which are read as bits, can no longer be read due to the aging of the insulation layer that holds these charges.'
"According to our sister site Blocks & Files, a single-level cell supports around 100,000 cycles while a (2-bit) MLC cell wears out after around 10,000 cycles, a triple-level cell is limited to 3,000 cycles and QLC supports about 1,200. Upcoming penta-level cells (5 bits per cell) are likely to have less than 600 cycles.
"'Even with high-quality memory chips, the effort that manufacturers have to put into error correction mechanisms in the controller is enormous. It is not surprising that data loss occurs with USB sticks containing decommissioned chips,' Heinicke states.
"He posted a few tips for flash users. If you frequently write and delete data on USB sticks, such as when using them as backup devices, for example, you should use several sticks in rotation.
"If #FlashMedia is to be used to store anything for an extended period, use high-quality storage hardware, and keep it somewhere cool, as high temperatures may accelerate data loss.
"Flash storage should be accessed annually or semi-annually, as this allows the error correction mechanisms to internally copy "fading" data, and devices should not be filled to capacity – leaving unallocated space allows the internal data maintenance and error correction mechanisms to function longer."
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My work computer has a "flash drive" (not my choice). I constantly back up critical files, because I don't trust them. I always say, "Your files will be gone in a flash!" Personally, I prefer old school hard drives -- the ones you can fix by hitting them with a tiny hammer!
You're not imagining things – #USB #MemorySticks are getting worse
Story by Dan Robinson
February 7, 2024"A German data recovery specialist has confirmed what many Reg readers will have suspected: USB memory sticks are getting less reliable. The cause, as you might have guessed, is inferior memory chips, while the move to storing multiple bits per flash cell also plays a part.…
"CBL Data Recovery posted that the quality of newer memory components in microSD and USB sticks is declining, and it reported that USB sticks where the NAND manufacturer's logo had been removed from the chip are increasingly turning up in its data recovery laboratory.
"It suspects that flash chips from manufacturers such as SK hynix, Sandisk or Samsung that fail quality control checks are being resold into the market, but marked as components with lower memory capacities.
"'When we opened defective USB sticks last year, we found an alarming number of inferior memory chips with reduced capacity and the manufacturer's logo removed from the chip,' wrote CBL Managing Director Conrad Heinicke (translated from German).
"Heinicke said that many of the USB sticks actually contained microSD cards that had been mounted onto the circuit board and were being managed by an external controller chip. While USB sticks like this were mostly promotional gifts, he said, there were also branded products among them, adding: 'You shouldn't rely too much on the reliability of flash memory.'
"Heinicke's view is that the adoption of multi-level cell architectures, where a single memory cell is coaxed into storing more than just a single bit by varying the voltage, has also exacerbated the situation. With quad level cells (QLC), for example, four bits are stored per cell, which means that 16 states have to be distinguished.
"This path was chosen by the NAND flash manufacturers because it delivers greater storage density, which means higher capacity drives and lower costs per GB. But it also has implications for the endurance, or longevity of the cells. In other words, the cells wear out faster the more bits they are used to store.
"'The downside of success in increasing storage density: writability (endurance) and storage capacity (retention) decrease,' he wrote. "This means that the number of maximum possible write-read cycles decreases and the risk increases that the charge differences, which are read as bits, can no longer be read due to the aging of the insulation layer that holds these charges.'
"According to our sister site Blocks & Files, a single-level cell supports around 100,000 cycles while a (2-bit) MLC cell wears out after around 10,000 cycles, a triple-level cell is limited to 3,000 cycles and QLC supports about 1,200. Upcoming penta-level cells (5 bits per cell) are likely to have less than 600 cycles.
"'Even with high-quality memory chips, the effort that manufacturers have to put into error correction mechanisms in the controller is enormous. It is not surprising that data loss occurs with USB sticks containing decommissioned chips,' Heinicke states.
"He posted a few tips for flash users. If you frequently write and delete data on USB sticks, such as when using them as backup devices, for example, you should use several sticks in rotation.
"If #FlashMedia is to be used to store anything for an extended period, use high-quality storage hardware, and keep it somewhere cool, as high temperatures may accelerate data loss.
"Flash storage should be accessed annually or semi-annually, as this allows the error correction mechanisms to internally copy "fading" data, and devices should not be filled to capacity – leaving unallocated space allows the internal data maintenance and error correction mechanisms to function longer."
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ICYMI - From 2017
Levels of #EWaste soar in #Asia as gadgets become affordable, UN says
Amount of electronic waste up 63% in five years, with China’s more than doubling, United Nations University report finds
Agence France-Presse
Sun 15 Jan 2017 11.29 EST"Levels of #ElectronicWaste are rising sharply across #Asia, as higher incomes mean hundreds of millions of people can afford #smartphones and other #gadgets, according to a UN study.
"The amount of e-waste in Asia has risen by 63% in five years, a report by United Nations University said, warning of the need to improve #recycling and disposal methods across the region to prevent serious #environmental and health consequences.
"Ruediger Kuehr, the report’s co-author and head of UNU’s sustainable cycles programme, said: 'For many countries that already lack infrastructure for environmentally sound e-waste management, the increasing volumes are a cause for concern.'
"For many years, China and other Asian countries have recycled discarded electronics from wealthier countries in rudimentary and often unsafe factories.
"But the report said Asia has become a major source of e-waste due to increasingly affluent #consumers buying electronic items including #phones, #tablets, #refrigerators, #computers and #televisions.
"China’s generation of e-waste more than doubled between 2010 and 2015, the period of the study, according to the report.
"#HongKong generated the highest amount of e-waste in Asia in 2015, an average of 21.7kg (3.4st) per person.
"#Singapore and #Taiwan created just over 19kg per person in 2015.
"#Cambodia, #Vietnam and the #Philippines were among the lowest e-waste generators, with an average of about 1kg per person."
#Consumerism #Capitalism #Crapitalism #PlannedObsolescence #SupportLegacyProducts #Landfills #RightToRepair #EnvironmentalRacism #WaterIsLife #SoilIsLife #RepairReuseRecycle #Consumerism #Anticonsumerism #EnvironmentalPollution
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How Soaring E-Waste Pollution Is Putting Lives at Risk
by April Miller
Mar 3rd 2022The Growing Amount of E Waste Pollution
"The proper disposal of electronics is a heated topic in the minds of those looking to live more sustainably and reduce their carbon footprint. As more devices come out each year, it only adds to the amount of e-waste generated. Consider how #Apple, #Huawei, #Samsung, #Google and other companies release several new phone models annually. Older models then become #obsolete and must be disposed of properly.
"Statista reports that the amount of e-waste generated worldwide was around 54 million metric tons in 2019. Due to increased spending power and the wide availability of electronics, e-waste is becoming the fastest-growing waste stream worldwide. It’s estimated that generation will increase by 30% by 2030.
"These figures make sense, considering how common it is for people to throw away small electronic devices along with their other trash. However, most are not aware of opportunities to recycle electronics, what environmental impact they’re making by throwing away e-waste or how much cash they can earn by selling it.
How E Waste Harms the #Environment and Our #Health
"Why is e-waste becoming a more prevalent issue worldwide? #ElectronicWaste poses unique ecological concerns. Most e-waste contains #HazardousChemicals, and the manufacturing processes may also harm the #environment.
"When e-waste ends up in a #landfill, the surrounding #soil can become #contaminated with #toxic substances such as #mercury, #cadmium, #beryllium and #lead. These chemicals enter the soil, waterways and air, leading to polluted environments and negatively impacting human and #marine life.
"Consider people who use natural wells or the animals who rely on bodies of water. They could be exposed to toxic chemicals that can impact their health.
"It’s also important to note that when high volumes of e-waste enter landfills, device manufacturers must mine more materials to build new devices. #Phones and other #electronics contain small amounts of valuable metals like #gold, #silver and #palladium, among other critical components. These materials are becoming harder to mine, especially with the increased demand for more electronic devices.
How E Waste Contributes to #Air Pollution
One journal from Environmental Research Letters reported that researchers took air samples from a large e-waste disposal site in #China and found that the products in these landfills harmed human #lung cells.
"According to the World Health Organization (WHO), these are some adverse health effects caused by exposure to e-waste:
- Negative birth outcomes for expecting mothers, such as #stillbirth or #premature birth
- Increased rates of #ADHD in young children
- Changes in lung function
- #DNA damage
- Respiratory issues
- Impaired thyroid function
- Increased risk of chronic diseases like #cancer and #cardiovascular disease"Additionally, the WHO reports that appropriate collection and #recycling of e-waste can help protect the environment and human health.
"Global E-waste Statistics Partnership (GESP) found that 17.4% of e-waste that was collected appropriately prevented as much as 15 million tons of carbon dioxide from being emitted into the atmosphere. High levels of carbon dioxide entering the environment and therefore contributing to global warming make it clear that e-waste is a much larger issue than some believe it to be. It may seem easy to toss away old electronics in the trash, but doing so negatively affects the environment and can harm human health.
Recycling Electronics to Benefit Humans and the Environment
"More state and federal action is needed to reduce the negative impact e-waste has on humans and the environment. So far, around 25 US states and the District of Columbia have passed legislation to establish an e-waste recycling programme. Additionally, several manufacturers offer some type of electronic return initiative, with some hosting or sponsoring recycling events for consumers.
"Many manufacturers have adopted more #sustainable business practices to prevent outdated devices from entering landfills. However, this can be challenging, considering how often users want to upgrade to the latest technology due to new features and designs.
Republicans and Democrats are pursuing laws that would make it easier for consumers to repair their devices, from vehicles to refrigerators to smartphones. This movement is being coined as the Right to Repair movement. Manufacturers often make it difficult for consumers to fix a wide range of products by limiting the availability of parts or limiting who can perform repairs.
The goal of the movement is to prohibit manufacturers from taking these measures. This can directly reduce the amount of e-waste entering landfills in the first place. Consumers would then be able to repair devices themselves, save money and avoid tossing obsolete products in the trash.
E-waste is a growing problem worldwide, and more emphasis should be put on the importance of recycling electronics. The benefits of recycling far outweigh the drawbacks. Governments, consumers and manufacturers need to find viable solutions to this prevalent issue. Whether it’s contaminated soil entering waterways or toxic chemicals released into the atmosphere, more work needs to be done to mitigate the negative effects e-waste causes."
https://earth.org/e-waste-pollution/
#ElectronicWaste #SupportLegacyProducts #Windows11 #Consumerism #Capitalism #Crapitalism
#PlannedObsolescence
#Landfills #RightToRepair #EnvironmentalRacism #WaterIsLife #SoilIsLife #RightToRepair
#RepairReuseRecycle
#Consumerism
#Anticonsumerism #EnvironmentalPollution -
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Likes/Interests: #Programming #Technology #OpenSource #FreeSoftware #FOSS #FLOSS #Fediverse #OnlineFreedom #Privacy #Anonymity #Anonymous #InfoSec #CyberSecurity #Manjaro #Linux #Science #Socialism #HumanRights #SocialJustice #MultipolarWorld #Programming #Python #Golang #Rust #RetroGaming #Gaming #SelfHosted #TechNews #Matrix #Youtube #Movies #Anime #Hentai #Erotica #Futurology #AI #Singularity #Fitness #Health #Collapse #ClimateCrisis #Audiobooks #Books #Fantasy #SciFi #StarWars #Fanfiction #Conspiracy #CriticalThinking #Cooking #DataHoarding #Piracy #FileSharing #Meshnet #Decentralized #Distributed #P2P #PeerToPeer #IPFS #Zeronet #Freenet #I2P #Tor
Dislikes/Disinterests: #Music #Memes #Sports #Coffee #Animals #Cats #Dogs #Nazis #CIA #NATO #UsEmpire #Oligarchy #Plutocracy #Kleptocracy #Imperialism #Fascism #Racism #Capitalism #Billionaires #Woke #Wokeism #Liberals #Democrats #Republicans #Conservatives #BigTech #ClosedSource #Microsoft #Discord #Copyright #Censorship #WesternMedia #MaintreamNews #OfficialPropaganda #Surveillance #PoliticalCorrectness #SurveillanceCapitalism #DRM #DataMining #FakeNews #Misinformation #Disinformation #EchoChamber #FilterBubble #CorporateMedia #Consumerism #Materialism #Overconsumption #PlannedObsolescence #FastFashion #Waste #EnvironmentalDegradation #Gentrification #Inequality #Neoliberalism #Globalization #FantasyFootball #Apple #Tech #BoardGames #TTRPG #DnD
Best to worst: #fopnu #nicotine+ ( #soulseek ) #aMule ( #edonkey2000 #ed2k ) #EiskaltDC++ ( #dcpp ) #gnutella #Shareaza #qBittorrent ( #BitTorrent #torrent )