High-Tech Trash or E-Waste

Elzara Celebi    IS 62, Brooklyn

 

THE UNITED STATES PRODUCES 9.4 MILLION TONS OF E-WASTE PER YEAR.

 

Introduction

E-waste is a popular, informal name for electronic products nearing the end of their "useful life." Computers, televisions, VCRs, stereos, copiers, and fax machines are common electronic products. Many of these products can be reused, refurbished, or recycled.  

The EPA estimates that in 2011, the US generated nearly 3.4 million TONS of e-waste. But only about 25% of that was collected for recycling. The other 75% went to landfills and incinerators, despite the fact that hazardous chemicals in them can leach out of landfills into groundwater and streams, or that burning the plastics in electronics can emit dioxin.

Electronic waste isn’t just waste; it contains some very toxic substances, such as mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, beryllium and brominated flame retardants. When the latter are burned at low temperatures they create additional toxins, such as halogenated dioxins and furans – some of the most toxic substances known to humankind. The toxic materials in electronics can cause cancer, reproductive disorders, endocrine disruption, and many other health problems if this waste stream is not properly managed.

Our school administrations choose your class to analyze this growing social problem   and use Public Policy Analysis to develop your own solution.

 

 

Task

Your task is to develop a policy designed to address the issue of electronic waste explaining the steps leading up to your proposed solution to the problem.

 

Create a poster promoting your ideas using the Public Policy Analyst.

 

 

Process

You will be working in teacher assigned groups of 5.

 

Your group will have 10 min to present their poster.

 

You will utilize the steps of the Public Policy Analyst to construct your policy.

 

The Public Policy Analyst (PPA) is designed to help students to maximize their participation in government as responsible citizens. As a public policy analyst, you and your class will develop the following policy skills, learning how to:

 

} Identify the nature of a social problem

Define the Problem: Worksheet#1

} Gather evidence to support the existence of the problem

Gather the Evidence: Worksheet #2

} Determine the causes and factors contributing to the problem.

Identify the Causes: Worksheet #3

} Evaluate the existing policy        

Evaluate an Existing Policy: Worksheet #4

} Develop public policy alternatives

            Develop Solutions: Worksheet #5

} Determine the best public policy solution to the problem

          Select the Best Solution: Worksheet#6 

 

1. Make a list of all the electronic devices in your home.

 

2. What will happen to them when they are disposed of?

 

3. Will they be reused or recycled?

 

 4. What choices do consumers and users have that will determine how their electronics are reused or recycled? 

 

POSTER BOARD

          -Each group will construct of POSTER BOARD, similar to the ones shown below

          -The poster board will include a study of Electronic Waste

          -The headings for the poster board will follow the PUBLIC POLICY ANALYST format describe in the process.

-You will have SIX headings mirroring the SIX-STEP PUBLIC POLCIY ANALYST

          --The poster board should be attractive and have graphs, charts, pictures, illustrations and text materials

 

 

EVALUATION

Poster Rubric

 

Conclusion

By completing this PPA Web Quest you have learned much about the harm of electronic waste and how this problem is affecting humans, animals and plants at a global scale. You have also learned about the policies our governments have created to try to counteract the effects of electronic waste on our lives. Use what you have learned here today as you make decisions about how to best help the environment.

 

 

Standards

NYS Science and ELA Standards

 

Science

Standard 1: The central purpose of scientific inquiry is to develop explanations of natural phenomena in a continuing, creative process.

 

Science Standard 4, Key Idea 5: Plants and animals depend on each other and their physical environment.

 

Science Standard 4, Key Idea 6: Human decisions and activities have had a profound impact on the physical and living environment.

 

English Language Arts

 

 Standard 1:

As listeners and readers, students will collect data, facts, and ideas, discover relationships, concepts, and generalizations; and use knowledge generated from oral, written, and electronically produced texts.

As speakers and writers, they will use oral and written language to acquire, interpret, apply, and transmit information.

Standard 3:   Language for Critical Analysis and Evaluation

Students will listen, speak, read, and write for critical analysis and evaluation. As listeners and readers, students will analyze experiences, ideas, information, and issues presented by others using a variety of established criteria. As speakers and writers, they will use oral and written language that follows the accepted conventions of the English language to present, from a variety of perspectives, their opinions and judgments on experiences, ideas, information and issues.

Standard 4:   Language for Social Interaction

Students will listen, speak, read, and write for social interaction. Students will use oral and written language that follows the accepted conventions of the English language for effective social communication with a wide variety of people. As readers and listeners, they will use the social communications of others to enrich their understanding of people and their views.