Mod8 Assignment: For This Case Study Response Analyze The Su ✓ Solved

Mod8 Assignment: For this case study response analyze the su

Mod8 Assignment: For this case study response analyze the subject below and compose an essay answering the questions. Focus on the development of specific events, issues, or conditions of the subject and their relationships. Read: Greenpeace: Guide to Greener Electronics; The Guardian: Samsung and Greenpeace: what you need to know about e-waste. Questions: Define the e-waste problem: what is happening and why is this a problem? What can manufacturers do to improve the situation with the various issues (health, hazardous materials, recycling, refuse, etc.)? Cite a minimum of two references. APA style. Original work.

Paper For Above Instructions

Introduction

Electronic waste (e-waste) -- discarded electrical and electronic equipment -- is a rapidly growing global problem driven by rising consumption, shorter product lifecycles, and limited repairability (Forti et al., 2020). The volume and complexity of e-waste create environmental, public health, and resource-efficiency challenges. This paper analyzes the e-waste problem, synthesizes findings from Greenpeace and The Guardian case material, and recommends practical manufacturer actions to address health risks, hazardous materials, recycling, and waste reduction (Greenpeace, 2017; Davies, 2016).

Scope and Dynamics of the E-waste Problem

Global generation of e-waste is enormous and accelerating: recent monitoring estimates over 50 million metric tons annually, with low collection and formal recycling rates (Forti et al., 2020). Many products contain hazardous substances (lead, mercury, brominated flame retardants), yet end-of-life management often occurs via informal recycling or export to countries with weak controls, causing contamination of soil, water, and air and exposing workers and communities to toxins (Baldé et al., 2017; WHO, 2017). Media investigations such as The Guardian’s reporting on Samsung’s policies illustrate how manufacturer practices and voluntary commitments directly influence how e-waste is managed and perceived by NGOs and the public (Davies, 2016; Greenpeace, 2017).

Why E-waste Is a Problem: Health, Environment, and Economics

Uncontrolled dismantling and open burning release toxic compounds linked to neurological, respiratory, and developmental harms (WHO, 2017). Persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals bioaccumulate, affecting ecosystems and food chains (Grant et al., 2013). Economically, e-waste contains recoverable valuable materials (gold, copper, rare earths), but when recycling is informal or inefficient, resource recovery is lost and producers miss circular-economy opportunities (Schluep et al., 2012; Forti et al., 2020). Social justice issues arise when consumers in higher-income countries export waste burdens to vulnerable communities (Basel Convention, 2019).

Manufacturer Responsibilities and Opportunities

Manufacturers can significantly improve outcomes across health, hazardous materials, recycling, and refuse reduction through design, supply-chain policies, take-back systems, and transparency. Key actions include:

  • Design for repair, reuse, and recyclability: Extend product lifespans via modular design, standardized fasteners, and accessible batteries to reduce turnover and enable safe disassembly (Greenpeace, 2017; Schluep et al., 2012).
  • Substitute hazardous materials: Phase out or limit use of toxic additives (e.g., certain brominated flame retardants, mercury) and adopt safer alternatives, with public disclosure of material content to support safe recycling (Basel Convention, 2019; Greenpeace, 2017).
  • Responsibility and take-back programs: Implement and scale producer-responsibility schemes that ensure secure collection, certified recycling, and transparent reporting. Manufacturer-funded programs reduce illicit export and ensure formal processing that protects workers (Forti et al., 2020; U.S. EPA, 2020).
  • Material passporting and design-for-disassembly standards: Provide digital documentation of components and materials to facilitate downstream processing and secondary markets for spare parts (Baldé et al., 2017).
  • Investment in certified recycling infrastructure: Co-invest with governments and recyclers to develop local formal recycling capacity in regions where waste is generated, rather than shifting responsibility across borders (Basel Convention, 2019; Forti et al., 2020).
  • Incentives for circular business models: Adopt leasing, refurbishment, and trade-in programs that retain ownership or control and incentivize return of devices for professional refurbishment or material recovery (Schluep et al., 2012).
  • Transparent reporting and third-party verification: Publish data on material composition, product lifetimes, take-back volumes, and recycling outcomes verified by independent auditors to build trust and enable accountability (Greenpeace, 2017; Davies, 2016).

Practical Steps to Mitigate Health and Hazard Risks

Manufacturers should mandate occupational health and safety standards across their supply chains and recycling partners, require certified recyclers, and invest in training and protective equipment for workers in formal recycling facilities (WHO, 2017). Removing the most hazardous chemicals reduces downstream exposure risks for informal recyclers and communities. Where substitution is not immediately feasible, manufacturers must implement safer disassembly protocols and fund community remediation programs where historical contamination exists (Grant et al., 2013).

Policy and Collaboration to Support Manufacturer Action

Legislative frameworks—extended producer responsibility (EPR), import/export controls under the Basel Convention, and design-for-environment standards—create incentives and minimum requirements for manufacturers (Basel Convention, 2019; U.S. EPA, 2020). Collaboration among industry, NGOs, and governments can accelerate standard adoption and infrastructure investment. Case studies such as Greenpeace’s ranking of electronics firms demonstrate how public accountability campaigns can motivate improvements when combined with credible third-party verification (Greenpeace, 2017; Davies, 2016).

Conclusion

E-waste is a multifaceted problem linking consumption patterns, product design, hazardous materials, and waste management systems. Manufacturers have levers to reduce volumes, remove harmful substances, and ensure responsible end-of-life processing through design changes, take-back programs, material transparency, and partnerships for certified recycling. These actions not only reduce health and environmental harms but also recover valuable materials and support circular economy goals. Urgent, coordinated action by producers, regulators, and civil society is needed to reverse current trends and protect vulnerable workers and ecosystems (Forti et al., 2020; Greenpeace, 2017).

References

  • Baldé, C. P., Wang, F., Kuehr, R., & Huisman, J. (2017). The Global E-waste Monitor 2017: Quantities, flows and resources. United Nations University (UNU), International Telecommunication Union (ITU) & International Solid Waste Association (ISWA).
  • Basel Convention. (2019). Technical guidelines on environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
  • Davies, H. (2016). Samsung and Greenpeace: what you need to know about e‑waste. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com
  • Forti, V., Baldé, C. P., Kuehr, R., & Bel, G. (2020). The Global E-waste Monitor 2020: Quantities, flows and the circular economy potential. United Nations University.
  • Grant, K., Goldizen, F. C., Sly, P. D., et al. (2013). Health consequences of exposure to e-waste: a systematic review. The Lancet Global Health, 1(6), e350–e361.
  • Greenpeace. (2017). Guide to Greener Electronics. Greenpeace International. Retrieved from https://www.greenpeace.org
  • Schluep, M., Hagelueken, C., Kuehr, R., et al. (2012). Recycling — From e-waste to resources. UNU and UNEP publishing.
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). (2020). Sustainable Management of Materials: Electronics. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov
  • World Health Organization (WHO). (2017). Children and digital dumpsites: E-waste and human health.
  • Samsung Electronics. (2015). Sustainability Report 2015: Product stewardship and recycling programs. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

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