By Avery McCammon

It’s official: the iPhone 13 is coming out on September 24th. While you might not be able to notice the slight camera upgrade, or the additional stainless-steel bands around the edges of the handset, or that the phone is a few millimeters smaller than the last update, there’s a part of you that still wants it. Rationally, you know that spending over $1,000 on a new phone is not the best investment, but something about being able to tell your friends that you have the “Sierra Blue iPhone 13 Pro Max” excites you. This desire to always have the newest, fastest, shiniest, most expensive tech item on the market-whether it be a computer, watch, or phone-has become ingrained in each of us. The consumerist tech culture we have created though, not only hurts our wallets but also the environment.

Once you’ve picked up your new tech you’re probably too enthralled in exploring its new capabilities to think twice about where your old phone is going to end up once you discard it. These forgotten electronics are classified as “e-waste” and include items like televisions, computers, cell phones, printers, and scanners. In 2019, the EPA estimated that US consumers discarded 6.92 million tons of e-waste-and this number only continues to increase. Even more shocking is that only 12.5 percent of e-waste is currently recycled, while the rest ends up in landfills. These statistics should startle you, not only because we are adding more trash to our landscape, but also because e-waste is considered a hazardous material. Every electronic device is a unique concoction of toxic chemicals including arsenic, barium, beryllium, brominated flame retardants, mercury, lead… the list goes on and on. As I’m sure you can assume, none of these chemicals magically disappear when you throw away your old phone. 

Now you might be saying to yourself, “well, I donate my old tech devices and they get recycled so I’m not part of the problem” and, unfortunately, that’s where you would be wrong. Most companies and organizations that advertise that they recycle e-waste, actually don’t. Instead, they export the old devices-often to countries in Eastern Asia-to be picked apart so the valuable metals within can be extracted. The people-predominantly women and children-who work at these “recycling plants” smelt and de-solder the devices to extract the copper, gold, and other precious metals. Without the proper protection gear these individuals are at risk for burns, cancers, brain swelling, muscle weakness, heart damage, and skin conditions. Additionally, the particulates that are released from the burning of the e-waste contaminate the air and can also result in the toxins from the devices leaching into the groundwater. 

  One study conducted on a “recycling plant” in Guiyu, China revealed staggeringly high levels of toxic heavy metals and organic contaminants in samples of dust, soil, surface water, and ground water around the plant. This environmental degradation not only affects the people working at the plant and living in Guiyu, but also the surrounding regions, as it is impossible to contain contaminated air and water to one area.

But don’t worry; there are still ways we can properly dispose of e-waste and thus avoid human rights violations, prevent further environmental degradation, and save ourselves from drowning under piles of computers and phones. First, be thoughtful. Though it might be tempting, don’t just get a new tech device because it will make your life a bit easier or because your best friend is getting it. Only upgrade if your old device is no longer functioning, and even your smartest comp-sci friend can’t help you out. Second, make sure you know where your e-waste is going. The company to whom you give your device should be R2 or e-Steward certified-these certifications designate responsible, environmentally friendly e-waste recyclers. And third, spread the word about the e-waste crisis. Despite the fact that e-waste is an ever-growing problem that almost everyone is contributing to, it is not widely discussed, which desperately needs to change. 

So now it’s time for you to decide. In a few days, when the new iPhone 13 Pro Max is released, what will you prioritize-the environment and human rights or a material good?