I’m what you could refer to as a ‘baby environmentalist’ (yes, I made that term up). I’m pretty uneducated when it comes to knowing the important facts about our environment and I’m only just starting to take small baby steps to mitigate negative impacts. I’ve ditched single-use plastics, regularly take 3 for the sea, and have swapped most of my household cleaners for vinegar and baking soda.

But I’ve NEVER pondered the effects of the digital world on our environment. Paper use, sure. The rubbish, ‘recycle’ debate, yes. Global warming and carbon emissions, uh huh.

But not our digital waste. 

And then I read this and saw this image.

Photo Credit Basal Action Network

The photo description reads

Migrant child from Hunan province sits atop one of countless piles of unrecyclable computer waste imported from around the world.

Heart = broken.

Electronic waste is the fastest growing type of waste in the world

And one of the hidden atrocities of e-waste is the dumping of unrecyclable electronic waste in developing countries. The Basel Action Network is an environmental watchdog in this area and has exposed dozens of companies who claim to be ethically recycling their e-waste.

Here’s what I thought happened. Environmentally minded people like you or I thoughtfully dispose of our old electronic goods. We take them to a place that tells us they will recycle our goods. The items are then stripped, reused, repaired, and repurposed. Viola! Job done.

In some cases, this happens. In many many cases, it doesn’t.

It turns out its just as likely our electronic items could wind up in a pile in Hong Kong (approximately 20 percent of electronic waste produced in the United States end up in Hong Kong) with a 5-year-old boy sitting a-top, barefoot, waiting for his parents to finish work for the day. His parents are likely suffering from decreased lung and thyroid functionand are being paid a mere $8 a day for their suffering (health insurance not included).

This is one of those big deal things. Right up there with plastic in our sea. And yes, it feels insurmountable. But like all the environmental issues we are facing, there is always something small we can do. Baby steps are how we will get these big jobs done.

When I’m decluttering, electronics goods that we no longer use are often the last to go. I’ve never known what to do with them! So they get left, languishing in corners of wardrobes for years.

So what can we do?

• If you are purchasing new electronic goods, maybe ask yourself if you really need that upgrade? If you are still convinced you need the new phone or television or laptop, consider spending a bit more so that the item has longevity and you aren’t shopping again in two years.

• Commit to adopting a ‘fix-it before replacing it’ philosophy when it comes to electronic goods. I know that it seems easier and often cheaper to discard a broken item and get a shiny new one, but consider what might happen to the old one before you do that.

• When you do need to dispose of an electronic item, research who in your country will safely and ethically do the job. A great place to start is the E-Stewards where you can search for a business or organization that is recognized as adhering to international laws on trade in hazardous waste. If you are a New Zealand reader then you need to search your local council website and they will tell you where items can be dropped.

These are three small baby steps that you can implement today to minimize e-waste and make our world a safer healthier place for everyone.

This is the second in a short series of posts about the impacts of our digital world. Next week I’m taking a deeper dive into how the digital world is affecting our connections with others.

If you missed my tips on curating your Facebook feed this week you can grab them here!