Gibbons, S. (2021, October 21). How Companies Are Addressing The E-Waste Problems. 

forbes.com. Retrieved January 14, 2022, from 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/serenitygibbons/2021/10/21/how-companies-are-addressing-the-e-

waste-problem/?sh=1d01b37e7c21

Smartphone sales are estimated to be around 1.5 billion worldwide, meaning that amount of phones is not disposed of properly. The main problem of e-waste in California is that people throw their old electronics away, causing significant environmental damage. But because of these, for instance, companies are stepping in to address the problem. One example of companies taking advantage of these situations is Gizmodo. It is a platform that allows someone to sell their old electronics instead of mindlessly throwing them away. Another powerful example is Apple’s trade-in and recycling program, which allows a person to trade in old devices for credit towards their next purchase or an Apple gift card. Apple will also take care of recycling for free. Because of these companies stepping in to minimize electronic waste, other empires become inspired by it, such as Microsoft. Microsoft has begun to partner with recycling organizations and collection programs around the world.

I believe that big companies and names like Apple and Microsoft stepping in to help decrease e-waste is inspirational and creates hope for a better future. It is inspirational because loyal customers or admirers will also like to follow in their footsteps and act to clean our environment. I think that we all can contribute to the cleaning of our Earth by taking 3 innovative steps. The first is to Reduce and limit how often we make new technology purchases. The next is to try to Repair our old devices, trying to keep their function as long as it can. The last step is to try to Recycle.

Nguyen, A. (2021, September 30). Get Rid Of Your Electronic Waste For A Good Cause At 

Bonita High. Patch. Retrieved January 14, 2022, from 

https://patch.com/california/claremont-laverne/get-rid-your-electronic-waste-good-cause-bonita-

high

Bonita High School is helping out the community by hosting an electronic waste recycling event during September and October. Los Angeles County residents have the opportunity to drop off old electronics at the school. The event will accept televisions, computers, laptops, monitors, smartphones, and tablets. Microwaves, refrigerators, batteries, lightbulbs, appliances, and furniture will not be accepted. The high school’s PTA will receive 10 cents for every pound collected during the event. 

I believe that small events like this are beneficial to the revival of our environment. Through occasions like these, electronic waste becomes less of a hazard to our society. E-waste contains numerous chemicals that are harmful to people and the environment such as mercury, lead, beryllium, brominated flame retardants, and cadmium. When electronics are mishandled during disposal, these chemicals end up in our soil, water, and air, which ultimately slowly destroys our environment.

Beech, C. (2021, September 20). A SoCal company faces an e-waste problem head-on. Spectrum 

News. Retrieved January 13, 2022, from 

https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/la-west/business/2021/09/20/socal-company-faces-e-waste-proble

m-head-on

A Southern California company is being praised for trying to face worldwide electronic problems head-on through its program. Homeboy Industries is an organization that supports former gang members and ex-prisoners by helping them find jobs and adjust to life outside of the jail system. This industry has a sub-division called Homeboy Electronics Recycling that concentrates on collecting electronic waste, and either disposes it or recycles it for continued use. 

I believe that Homeboy Industries is revolutionizing e-waste cleanups. Through their service to the community, the industry is providing a platform for marginalized people to prove their goodness to society as well as simultaneously clean our environment. This article relates to the topic of e-waste because it helps the reader understand that e-waste is harming our community with its bad toxins. And it shows that with effort, cleaning up e-waste is easy and we as a society should do more to help out.

Engstrom, J., & Wiens, K. (2021, December 16). Opinion: As Apple shows, Californians can fix 

their own possessions. The Mercury News. Retrieved January 13, 2022, from 

https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/12/16/opinion-as-apple-shows-californians-can-fix-their-o

wn-possessions/

Apple announces that it will be sharing product repair with the parts and tools that customers need to fix their devices. Apple announced that it will begin sharing with the public more than 200 parts and tools for its products, starting with their newest devices such as their iPhone 12 and 13 and new Macs. The program is said to supposedly grow to include newer smartphone models and Mac computers. This innovation is vital for the growing Right to Repair movement, which has been working to pass legislation to make sure that all Americans gave the right to repair not just their phones but anything they buy and own.

I believe that Apple’s contribution to self-repairment for customers is helpful to preventing e-waste. This is because when people find it inconvenient to fix a product, they’re more likely to throw it away and buy a new one, especially when newer and updated products come out. Empowering more independent repair options would extend the lifespan of our stuff, reduce pollution of manufacturing and reduce the electronic waste that heads to landfills. Overall, I think this add-on is smart and a great alternative to buying a new phone.

Thompson, D. (2021, December 20). California Sues Walmart Over Disposal of Hazardous 

Waste. USNews.com. Retrieved January 13, 2022, from 

https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2021-12-20/california-sues-walmart-over-disposal-of-hazardous-waste

California prosecutors state that the retail empire, Walmart, illegally dumped more than 1 million batteries, aerosol cans of insect killer and other products, toxic cleaning supplies, electronic waste, latex pains, and other hazardous waste into California landfills each year. Walmart had similar allegations in the past, such as their lawsuit in 2010 in which Walmart paid $25 million to California, and agreed to stop dumping into local landfills. Another previous lawsuit took place in 2014, where the company pleaded guilty to 6 federal misdemeanors in 16 California counties, which was also part of an $81 million deal that included charges in Missouri. Walmart is known to illegally dispose of nearly 80 tons of electronic and hazardous waste each year.

I believe that California did well with the actions it performed. Their lawsuit with Walmart will help prevent further illegal dumpings, which will ultimately reduce the dangers of e-waste. Though, I still don’t understand why Walmart would continue their dumplings even after their multiple cases with California AND Missouri, as well as the hefty fines they had to pay. Walmart should not encourage these actions, since their company is powerful and influential. Maintaining clean landfills, rid of any e-waste is a vital aspect of environmental science and the illegal hazardous dumps destroy that. The last lawsuit between California and Walmart served great justice since Walmart paid for the damages they caused, and is not prohibited from ruining our environment again.

Sotelo, G. (2021, August 22). What Is E-Waste and Why Is It a Problem? https://www.treehugger.com/. Retrieved August 31, 2021, from https://www.treehugger.com/what-is-e-waste-and-why-is-it-a-problem-5186270

E-waste is described as electronic products and equipment that have reached the end of their life cycle or that do not have a purpose to their previous owners anymore. So when it is not properly disposed of or recycled, e-waste can emit pollutants and become a serious environmental problem. The increasing rate of e-waste is also concerning, especially in developing nations where the waste is shipped as a cheaper alternative for processing, often resulting in unsafe disposal methods.

The article provides great information on E-waste and explains the situation of the increase in electronic waste. This will help common people understand what the issue is and what they can do to stop it. I like the simple explanation and data given by the author.

Karidis, A. (2021, April 21). E-waste – Both Affliction and Opportunity. https://www.waste360.com/. Retrieved August 31, 2021, from https://www.waste360.com/e-waste/e-waste-both-affliction-and-opportunity

E-waste is and has been the fastest growing waste stream for decades. According to John Shergeria, co-founder and executive director of ERI, he believes that the opportunity to recycle is massive. The company, ERI, is certified at the highest level by all leading environmental and data security oversight organizations to de-manufacture, recycle, and refurbish every type of electronic device in an environmentally responsible manner. They are zero waste, zero landfills, zero emissions. Everything they generate from their shredding process goes for beneficial reuse into new products around the world. Ultimately, they are believed to be truly part of the circular economy.

I believe this article allows the reader to know what organizations such as ERI have done to help with the problem of electronic waste. ERI has helped slow down the production of electronic waste, and I hope their methods spread throughout the world.