Report about record amount of electronic waste created by the planet's humans, and what little is recycled.
Produced for April 20, 2015, but can run for a few days after. Info: newsroom.free103point9.org and newsroom.wgxc.org
The Guardian reported last week that the world discarded a record 41.8 million tons of electronic waste in 2014, according to a report from the United Nations University, the UNâs educational and research branch. Norway was worst on a per capita basis, with 62.5 pounds per person generated there. The United States and China created the bulk of the waste, almost one-third of the worldâs total. Those countries were followed by Japan, Germany, and India, in terms of bulk electronic waste. Of all that trash, only 1/6th of that is recycled. And thatâs even with, the UN report notes, 300 tons of gold hidden among the 41.3 million tons. âWorldwide, e-waste constitutes a valuable âurban mineâ â a large potential reservoir of recyclable materials,â said UN under secretary-general David Malone. âAt the same time, the hazardous content of e-waste constitutes a âtoxic mineâ that must be managed with extreme care.â Mobile phones, calculators, personal computers, and printers, make up only seven percent of items deemed âelectronic waste,â with kitchen items taking up the most room in the trash.
Electronic Waste April 20, 2015
Radio news about radio waves.
00:01:16
1
April 20, 2015
Produced at Wave Farm/WGXC in the Hudson Valley, New York.
![<?php echo $config['site_title']; ?>](/static/images/rp-navimg.gif)
![Support the <?php echo $config['site_title']; ?>](/static/images/support.png)
