Over the past two weeks STA students have been bringing in their old cell phones, printer cartridges, and batteries as part of the 2nd annual E-waste Drive.  The drive aims to get old electronics out of student’s homes to be refurbished or recycled - before they wind up in landfill.  The drive is sponsored by the environmental club who have advertised the event with posters throughout the school, as well as e-waste Christmas carols on the announcements.

The first period class who earns the most e-waste points will be rewarded with a Christmas cookie party.  Points are awarded for each e-waste item brought in.  Cell phones earn the most points and batteries earn the least.

“But it’s not about cookies.” says Jess Correa of the environmental club.  “It is about recycling e-waste and keeping it out of the dump.  It is also about making sure what is recycled is done so properly and ethically.”

It turns out that worldwide, much of the over 12 tonnes of e-waste produced each year, from cell phones to monitors, is shipped to developing countries like Ghana.  Once there, items are “recycled” often by burning them or using acid in order to extract valuable metals like gold and copper.  “Poor people in these countries are polluting their land, and harming themselves by dealing with our waste.” Jess informs us.  These materials often come from people who thought they were donating items to be recycled properly.

This video from PBS Ghana: Digital Dumping Ground highlights what is happening in many developing nations.

The items collected by STA will be sent to Greentec to be refurbished or recycled ethically.

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