Did you know that as of 2018, there were about 2.5 billion smartphone users around the world? If we took apart all the latest models of these phones, which are just a small portion of the total produced, we could recover approximately 85,000 kilograms of gold, 875,000 kilograms of silver, and 40 million kilograms of copper. This makes us wonder: how do these valuable materials end up in our phones, and can we get them back?
Gold, silver, and copper are just a few of the roughly 70 chemical elements found in the average smartphone. These elements can be grouped into different categories, with two of the most important being rare earth elements and precious metals. Rare earth elements include 17 elements that are quite common in the Earth’s crust but are usually found in low concentrations. They have unique magnetic, phosphorescent, and conductive properties, making them essential for modern technology. Smartphones and other electronics can contain up to 16 of these rare earth metals, which are crucial for features like screen displays, conductivity, and vibrations.
However, extracting these elements from the Earth has significant environmental consequences. While rare earth elements can often be located, extracting them is not always economically feasible due to their low concentrations. The extraction process often involves open-pit mining, which can devastate large areas of land, destroy natural habitats, and cause air and water pollution, posing risks to nearby communities.
Smartphones also contain other metals, such as copper, silver, palladium, aluminum, platinum, tungsten, tin, lead, and gold, all of which come with similar environmental concerns. The mining of magnesium, lithium, silica, and potassium for phone production is also linked to habitat destruction and pollution. Additionally, mining can lead to social issues, such as the displacement of communities and poor working conditions for laborers.
Moreover, phone production relies on petroleum, a significant contributor to climate change, further entangling smartphones in environmental challenges. The materials used to manufacture phones are not infinite, and one day they will be depleted, with no effective replacements currently available for some.
Despite these issues, the number of smartphones continues to rise, with predictions suggesting there will be close to 3 billion in use by 2019. This makes reclaiming the materials within our phones increasingly important. If you have an old phone, consider your options before discarding it. To reduce waste, you could donate it to a charity, take it to an e-waste recycling facility, or find a company that refurbishes old models.
However, it is essential to scrutinize recycling companies as well. Just as smartphone production has social and environmental challenges, dismantling them does too. E-waste is sometimes exported to countries with cheap labor but poor working conditions. Workers, often women and children, may be underpaid, lack proper training for safe disassembly, and be exposed to hazardous materials like lead and mercury, which can cause long-term health issues.
Phone waste can also accumulate in large dump sites, leaking toxic chemicals into the soil and water, similar to the problems faced in mining operations. A smartphone is more than it appears; it is a collection of elements sourced from various countries, connected to global impacts. Until a fully sustainable smartphone is developed, we must acknowledge and address the effects of this technology on people and the environment worldwide.
Investigate the various chemical elements found in smartphones. Create a detailed report or presentation that explains the role of each element, focusing on rare earth elements and precious metals. Highlight their importance in smartphone functionality and discuss the environmental impact of their extraction.
Participate in a class debate on the ethical implications of smartphone production. Consider the environmental, social, and economic aspects. Prepare arguments for both sides: one supporting the current production practices and the other advocating for more sustainable and ethical alternatives.
Write a short story from the perspective of a smartphone, detailing its journey from raw material extraction to end-of-life recycling. Include the environmental and social challenges encountered along the way, emphasizing the global impact of smartphone production and disposal.
Design a workshop where you brainstorm and propose innovative solutions for improving e-waste recycling processes. Focus on making recycling more efficient, safe, and ethical. Present your ideas to the class and discuss their feasibility and potential impact.
Organize a field trip to a local e-waste recycling facility. Observe the processes involved in dismantling and recycling smartphones. After the visit, write a reflection on what you learned about the challenges and opportunities in e-waste management.
As of 2018, there are approximately 2.5 billion smartphone users worldwide. If we were to disassemble all their newest phones, which represent only a small fraction of the total produced, we could recover around 85,000 kilograms of gold, 875,000 kilograms of silver, and 40 million kilograms of copper. This raises the question: how did these valuable materials end up in our phones, and can we reclaim them?
Gold, silver, and copper are just a few of the 70 or so chemical elements found in the average smartphone. These elements can be categorized into various groups, with two of the most important being rare earth elements and precious metals. Rare earth elements consist of 17 elements that are relatively common in the Earth’s crust but are typically found in low concentrations. They possess a wide range of magnetic, phosphorescent, and conductive properties, making them essential for modern technologies. In fact, smartphones and other electronics may contain up to 16 of these rare earth metals, which are crucial for functions such as screen display, conductivity, and vibrations.
However, the extraction of these elements from the Earth is associated with significant environmental impacts. While rare earth elements can often be located, extracting them is often not economically viable due to their low concentrations. The extraction process frequently involves open-pit mining, which can devastate large areas of land, destroy natural habitats, and lead to air and water pollution, posing risks to nearby communities.
Smartphones also contain other metals, including copper, silver, palladium, aluminum, platinum, tungsten, tin, lead, and gold, all of which come with similar environmental concerns. The mining of magnesium, lithium, silica, and potassium for phone production is also linked to habitat destruction and pollution. Additionally, mining can lead to social issues, such as the displacement of communities and poor working conditions for laborers.
Moreover, phone production relies on petroleum, a significant contributor to climate change, further entangling smartphones in environmental challenges. The materials used to manufacture phones are not infinite, and one day they will be depleted, with no effective replacements currently available for some.
Despite these issues, the number of smartphones continues to rise, with predictions suggesting there will be close to 3 billion in use by 2019. This makes reclaiming the materials within our phones increasingly important. If you have an old phone, consider your options before discarding it. To reduce waste, you could donate it to a charity, take it to an e-waste recycling facility, or find a company that refurbishes old models.
However, it is essential to scrutinize recycling companies as well. Just as smartphone production has social and environmental challenges, dismantling them does too. E-waste is sometimes exported to countries with cheap labor but poor working conditions. Workers, often women and children, may be underpaid, lack proper training for safe disassembly, and be exposed to hazardous materials like lead and mercury, which can cause long-term health issues.
Phone waste can also accumulate in large dump sites, leaking toxic chemicals into the soil and water, similar to the problems faced in mining operations. A smartphone is more than it appears; it is a collection of elements sourced from various countries, connected to global impacts. Until a fully sustainable smartphone is developed, we must acknowledge and address the effects of this technology on people and the environment worldwide.
Smartphone – A portable electronic device that combines mobile telephone and computing functions, often used to access environmental data and applications. – Example sentence: Researchers developed a smartphone app to help citizens monitor air quality in their local area.
Elements – Substances that consist of only one type of atom and cannot be broken down into simpler substances, often found in various forms in the environment. – Example sentence: Understanding the distribution of elements like carbon and nitrogen is crucial for studying ecosystem dynamics.
Extraction – The process of removing natural resources from the environment, which can have significant ecological impacts. – Example sentence: The extraction of fossil fuels has led to habitat destruction and increased greenhouse gas emissions.
Pollution – The introduction of harmful substances or products into the environment, negatively affecting ecosystems and human health. – Example sentence: Industrial pollution has led to the contamination of local water sources, affecting both wildlife and human communities.
Recycling – The process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects, reducing the need for resource extraction and minimizing environmental impact. – Example sentence: Recycling aluminum cans saves energy and reduces the need for mining bauxite ore.
Habitat – The natural environment in which a particular species lives and grows, providing the necessary conditions for survival. – Example sentence: Deforestation is a major threat to the habitat of many endangered species, leading to a loss of biodiversity.
Climate – The long-term pattern of weather conditions in a particular region, influencing the types of ecosystems that can thrive there. – Example sentence: Climate change is causing shifts in weather patterns, affecting agriculture and water availability worldwide.
Waste – Materials that are discarded after use, which can contribute to environmental pollution if not managed properly. – Example sentence: Proper waste management practices are essential to prevent plastic pollution in oceans and waterways.
Mining – The process of extracting minerals or other geological materials from the Earth, often leading to environmental degradation. – Example sentence: Mining operations can lead to soil erosion and contamination of nearby water sources.
Materials – Substances or components used in the production of goods, which can have varying environmental impacts depending on their source and disposal. – Example sentence: Sustainable materials, such as bamboo and recycled plastics, are increasingly used in eco-friendly product design.
