Recycling

From TheStudentWiki

Relevant Field of Recycling - Computing/Green Computing

As more and more students within the United Kingdom and worldwide, both at relative secondary (GCSE/A Level) and higher level education are studying computer related topics i.e. Computer Science, Computer Forensics etc, coupled with the harsh reality that industries worldwide are dominated by such job prospects, computer usage is evidently on the increase everywhere. Although this industry is highly evolved and very well paid, these advantages shadow the dark prospect of pollution and computer related recycling, accordingly; Computer recycling, more commonly known as 'Green Computing', although neglected is very significant for the natural environment, mainly due to the hidden reality that 40 million computers/laptops and connecting hardware peripherals i.e. scanners, printers, hard drives worldwide are thrown out of homes, offices, schools and other relative workplaces per annum with no thought. Furthermore, this e-waste is inundated with environmentally harmful materials such as lead, cadmium, barium and mercury and in landfill environments also, these materials, if not correctly disposed of, can regularly reach our food and water supplies easily.

The image below, sourced from the Toshiba Environment website, shows the most efficient and environmentally friendly method of electronic peripheral disposal, in particular the laptop.

So, apart from simply throwing away our unwanted computers and peripherals without thinking of the consequences, when we get shiny new laptops, what can we do as a community to reduce and ideally conquer this problem?

A few efficient methods to reduce this problem can be located within the links below.

Donating Computers - The process of donating unwanted (both broken and functional) computers to relevant organisations

Upgrading system - The option of upgrading current home/business computers as opposed to purchasing new, recently updated (new Operating System) computers/peripherals

E-Waste - The process of considering and highlighting the dangers and problems of dumping bio-degradable computers and other electronic peripherals i.e. printers, scanners etc.