In today’s day and age, cell phones have become a large part of everyone’s lives. What’s not to like? They connect you to your friends, people around the world, and the all-knowing internet, allowing instantaneous communication and networking. Yet, many rarely stop to consider what happens after you decide to retire your phone. We are constantly upgrading and buying new phones-and the changeover rate is extremely high. One statistic claims 800 million cell phones are in use worldwide; these phones have a profound impact on the environment.
We are frequently bombarded with advertising and peer pressure that expects us to have the latest phone. Accordingly, the average lifespan of a cell phone is 18 months. As a result, 140,000,000 cell phones end up in the landfill every year. Recycling cell phones is not a common practice, and cell phones are often just tossed into the garbage. This in and of itself indicates why the environmental impacts of cell phones is such a large issue. Considering our own life spans, cell phones should be in use for much longer than eighteen months.
Essentially, cell phones are little boxes packed with toxic chemicals. When they are sent to the landfill, they leach chemicals into the environment. Some toxic heavy metals include lead, nickel, mercury, manganese, lithium, zinc, arsenic, antimony, beryllium and copper. These metals don’t break down or simply disappear- toxins can accumulate high up in food chains, and can also find their way into our water and soil. This impacts not only plants and animals, but us as well. These chemicals have been known to cause health issues such as cancer, damage to the nervous system, reproductive issues, and negative impacts on the human genome. When cell phones are incinerated, these same toxins are just released into the air. The environmental concerns pile up gradually with each cellphone being tossed.
To help alleviate the issue, follow this method to discard phones:
First off, recycling is an obvious way to help the environment out. Reusing parts prevents metals from being entering the environment. However, if you do eventually choose to recycle your device, be careful. Some electronic recyclers export the waste to developing countries where workers extract the resources in ways that are detrimental to their health. Another option is to consider an eco-friendly choice when buying your phone. Some companies have started progressing towards safer alternatives. Lastly, consider donating your phone to charities that will reuse it.
No matter what way you look at it, this is an unsustainable practice-and it will impact us in the long run. As today’s consumer, you hold the power in your hands. It’s up to you to demand that phones be made sustainably, and to make the right choices when discarding your phone.
