274 Appendix B^ Sample Speeches
d. improper disposal of electronic devices can have direct consequences for the
environment and the people living near the disposal sites.- Obviously, toxic chemicals can’t be all that good for the environment.
- A 2010 study in China, where much of the world’s e-waste is processed, compared
the health of pregnant women living near a facility with those living farther away
(Zhang et al., 2010).
a. Women living closer had up to five times the amount of toxic chemicals in
their blood.
b. They also had lower levels of thyroid hormones, which can cause nervous
system issues for their developing children.
Transition: now that you have a better understanding of some of the problems surrounding
e-waste, let’s look at an organization that is working for solutions.
ii. electronics TakeBack Coalition (eTBC) exists to help solve the mounting problem.
A. its website (n.d.) says it was founded in 2001 as the “Computer TakeBack
Campaign”—a project of the Tides Center. - it focused on the dell Computer Company, which had no recycling program.
- in 2007 it became the electronics TakeBack Coalition, reflecting a concern for the
wider field of all electronics.
B. According to its website (n.d.), the eTBC has a number of programs and initiatives
to change the state of e-waste on a national scale. - its flagship program centers on producer takeback, which urges manufacturers
to take back products and properly dispose of them.
a. in 2007, eTBC ran a campaign called “Take Back My TV,” encouraging television
companies to offer recycling programs.
b. eight companies now offer such programs. - The eTBC also provides information to individuals.
a. its website offers advice on finding recyclers in your area.
b. it has instructions for purchasing environmentally friendly technology. - Finally, the eTBC distributes information and tools to promote and track
implementation of anti-e-waste legislation on federal and state levels.
Conclusion
i. After looking at the facts, it is obvious that e-waste is a mounting problem.
ii. However, despite the harm e-waste poses to both humans and the environment,
organizations like the electronics TakeBack Coalition show that the problem is not
insurmountable.
iii. So think back to your own pieces of technology: computers, cell phones, ipods, and the like.
iV. next time you are thinking of upgrading, consider the cost of throwing out the old device
as well as the cost of purchasing the new.Sources
Electronics TakeBack Coalition. (n.d.). Campaign platform. Retrieved from http://www.electronicstakeback.com/
about/platform.htm
EMPA. (2009). E-waste definition. Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA).
Retrieved from http://ewasteguide.info/e_waste_definition
Environmental Protection Agency. (2008). Fact sheet: Management of electronic waste in the United States. (EPA
530-F-08-014). Washington, DC: Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/ecycling/
docs/fact7-08.pdf
Environmental Protection Agency. (2010, August 17). Administrator Jackson announces EPA’s international
priorities /agency to work with other countries to curb pollution at home and abroad. Retrieved from
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