Abstract

Chris Carroll's article "High-tech Trash" focuses on the danger of our society's increasing amount of "e-waste". Besides damage to the environment, people salvaging old electronic parts are being exposed to harmful chemicals. Because of many governments' stances on e-waste disposal a lot of trash ends up being sent to other countries in Asia and Africa for salvaging and resale. Carroll writes, "The result of the federal hands-off policy is that the greater part of e-waste sent to domestic recyclers is shunted overseas". And that "It is next to impossible to gauge how much e-waste is still being smuggled into China, diverted to other parts of Asia, or—increasingly—dumped in West African countries like Ghana, Nigeria, and Ivory Coast".

Of the various reasons he gives for why e-waste is dangerous the most apparent is the health risk by exposure to carcinogens. As salvagers burn wire and break tubes they are exposed to very harmful chemicals but they often need the money that can be brought in by recycling old electronics. Many legit recycling plants are unable to compete with the cheap prices of the salvage groups in overseas countries. We are not taking enough responsibility for our waste. Also, modern electronics and computers are outdated so quickly we are constantly creating an exponential amount of e-waste.

Carroll makes certain assumptions that the readers are part of the throw away society of electronics. He expects readers to be shocked at the harmful effects old electronics have on other human beings besides just environmental factors. Carroll wants to point out these problems so that readers can try and make a difference.