“Laura Young, an environmental scientist and campaigner, says fast tech represents a new kind of environmental threat – not just because of the potentially toxic chemicals many contain, but because of the sheer volume and disposability.
““We have never had throwaway technology like this before,” she says. “And I think people maybe just genuinely don’t realise that there are electronic components inside of a lot of these tiny devices.
““With vapes, a lot of people who use them were like, ‘there’s a battery in there?’, and they’d never thought. But actually, why would you have thought there’s a battery in it? You can’t see inside it.
““All of our electronics, your toaster, your kettle, your washing machine, your laptop, your iPad, your phone, all of them either sit plugged into the wall or are rechargeable. There was no disposable technology. So I think it’s right that you would never assume that anything you’re being sold is a disposable technology, because that’s not normal,” she says.
“There is also a push for better repair, reuse and borrowing options. Young points to community initiatives such as repair cafes and tool libraries that allow people to borrow items, often for a fraction of the cost of buying it new.
““I’m signed up to a tool library. I don’t buy DIY equipment any more.” Tackling fast tech requires “thinking differently”, she says, and not thinking “I have to own everything” or making unnecessary impulse purchases.”
Read the full article here: www.theguardian.com
