Many of us use computers for a variety of reasons. Some use it to play games, other use it to surf countless hours on the web, you might use it for research and school work. Even right now, you are using your computer to read this blog. But what happens to these computers once a newer model comes out or when our existing computers are no longer needed by us. The simple answer which is also the most practical, is that the existing computer gets thrown away for a newer computer. While this doesn't sound particularly harmful to us, it is indeed to the environment.
On average, electronic products including computers make 20 - 50 million tonnes of waste every year which ends up in developing countries such as China, Nigeria, India. A lot of these electronic waste contain toxic chemicals such as cadmium, lead and mercury. When left out in the dump, these toxic chemicals leak into nearby lakes and rivers surrounding them which harms the residents nearby who rely on those lakes and revers for cleansing clothes and drinking.
Many of these electronics such as computers contain precious metals such as gold and silver which are extracted by burning methods. These methods produce smoke which are hazardous to the air quality and people who inhale them causing respiratory problems. In addition to that, non-renewable resources such as coal are also consumed to generate electricity which powers computers. Get a better understanding of how throwing away computers effects the environment by watching the video below:
C2.1 Negative Effects of computers and computer use on the environment - Computers and Society 2. (n.d.). Retrieved April 09, 2016, from https://sites.google.com/a/danteacademy.ca/computers-and-society-2/environmental-stewardship-and-sustainability/negative-effects-of-computers-and-computer-use-on-the-environment
Green Computing - Environmental Issues - The Carnegie Cyber Academy. (n.d.). Retrieved April 09, 2016, from http://www.carnegiecyberacademy.com/facultyPages/environment/issues.html
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