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Today we live a world very different from that of our grandparents. Technology has
transformed our lives and our universe, increasing both communication and production.
But despite the amazing advantages that technology has brought to us it has also created
dangerous problems that our generation must face. Among the most fatal of these is the
improper disposal of electronic waste. For this reason, my partner and I stand strongly
Resolved: that the United States federal government should significantly reform its
environmental policy.
Before we jump into the meat of our case, let’s clear up some terms in…
Observation 1: Definitions
E-waste
Linda Luther (Environmental Policy Analyst for the Resources, Science, and Industry
Division of the Congessional Research Service), August 29, 2007, "Managing Electronic
Waste: An Analysis of State E-Waste Legislation_",
http://www.classiccomputerrecovery.com/CRS_Ewaste8.29.07.pdf
Observation 3: Inherency
“It is generally agreed upon in the scientific community that e-waste contains potentially
toxic compounds. Furthermore, the human health effects resulting from exposure to some
of these toxins, such as lead, are well understood.”
“In 2008 a Greenpeace study, "Not in My Backyard", found that in Europe only 25
percent of the e-waste was recycled safely. In the U.S. it is only 20 percent and in
developing countries it is less than one percent. Extrapolating out from these figures the
report concluded that a massive 80 percent of e-waste generated worldwide is not
properly recycled.”
4. Most e-waste is either in landfills or exported
INTERPOL ((International Criminal Police Organization) a Prestigious organization
founded in 1923 for facilitating international police cooperation.), May 2009,
"Electronic Waste and Organized Crime",
http://www.interpol.int/Public/ICPO/FactSheets/Wastereport.pdf
“The disposal of these high-tech electronics is problematic. Each year almost 7 million
tons of high-tech electronics become obsolete in the US (Grossman, 2006). The vast
majority of e-waste from such products ends up in landfill, incinerators and ill equipped
recycling facilities in developing nations.”
We see that out of the huge amounts of toxic e-waste produced each year, most of it is
being improperly disposed either in landfills or by being exported to third world countries
that cannot properly process it. Now let’s take a look at the problems this presents in…
Observation 4: Harms
Our first harm is that pertaining to…
1. Exports
CNN, August 10, 2009, "Sifting through the mounting problem of e-waste",
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/08/02/e-waste.recycling/index.html
“In 2008 a Greenpeace study, "Not in My Backyard", found that in Europe only 25
percent of the e-waste was recycled safely. In the U.S. it is only 20 percent and in
developing countries it is less than one percent. Extrapolating out from these figures the
report concluded that a massive 80 percent of e-waste generated worldwide is not
properly recycled. Some is burnt in Western incinerators or buried in landfill sites.
But much is exported to developing countries including India, China, Pakistan, Nigeria
and Ghana. When it arrives, a further percentage may be repaired and sold on to
populations desperate for affordable technology. But anything beyond the skills of local
traders will end up dumped.”
Much of e-waste is export to third world countries, but we see further that…
Nancy Weil (IDG News Service), October 31, 2005, "E-Waste Dumping Victimizes
Developing Nations, Study Says",
http://www.pcworld.com/article/123285/ewaste_dumping_victimizes_developing_nations
_study_says.html
“While all of the major U.S. PC vendors have recycling programs in place for used IT
equipment, such products are often sold to brokers for disposal and wind up in countries
such as Nigeria, but also elsewhere in Africa and in Asia. Some of the equipment is
repaired or refurbished for use in those countries, becoming important components in
bridging the "digital divide," but much of the gear -- up to 75 percent, according to some
estimates -- is beyond repair and ends up in dumps or landfills.”
“The result is both an environmental and a human rights disaster. The exported waste sits
in dumps until it is taken on by recycling operations. These operations can range from
companies employing thousands to individuals with their own circuit-board smelting
fires. Regardless of the method, the result is poisonous. The dismantling and burning of
these products releases toxins such as mercury, lead, chromium, cadmium, and various
chemical compounds found in plastics into the surroundings. This often results in unsafe
drinking water, toxic soil, and increased rates of both cancer and miscarriages.”
2. Landfills
We saw how more than 80% of e-waste is improperly disposed of. Much of it is exported,
the… Rest of the e-waste is in landfills(Link:)
Linda Luther (Environmental Policy Analyst for the Resources, Science, and Industry
Division of the Congessional Research Service), August 29, 2007, "Managing Electronic
Waste: An Analysis of State E-Waste Legislation_",
http://www.classiccomputerrecovery.com/CRS_Ewaste8.29.07.pdf
“Further, in 2005 alone, EPA estimated that between 1.9 to 2.2 million tons of electronics
became obsolete. Of that amount, between 1.5 to 1.9 million tons were discarded,
primarily in landfills. Although EPA estimates that e-waste comprises about 2% of the
municipal solid waste stream, it is anticipated that this percentage will grow as consumers
continue to replace old and outdated electronic equipment and discard equipment in
storage.”
Now you might think that burial deep in the ground would be the perfect place for toxic
waste, but we see that this isn’t true…
Brink: E-waste in landfills dangerous – Both through toxins leaching into water and
incineration. A Report from a Columbia University research team in 2006 says…
“In addition to the human health consequences of high-tech e-waste, the environment is
adversely affected when computer waste is landfilled or incinerated, it poses
contamination problems in leaking to water sources and toxic air emissions.”
The plan is a little complicated, so let me summarize the mandates for you before we dive
into the details. Basically the mandates are 1) Monitoring of all e-waste exports, 2) Ban
exports of e-waste to unsafe locations, and 3) Ban unprocessed e-waste from being
dumped in landfills. So now let’s dive into a more in depth look at the mandates:
Mandate 3: a. E-waste may not be put in landfills, unless processed to remove all
hazardous materials (according to EPA hazardous material list).
b. $ 1 billion shall be allotted in loan guarantees for the construction of e-waste recycling
facilities in the US.
Funding: Any necessary costs will be covered by cuts in Fruit Fly Exclusion & Detection
funds and the GFR (General Federal Revenue).
Observation 6: Advantages
By ending both exports of e-waste to countries that cannot properly dispose of it and by
prohibit the dumping of e-waste into landfills where it can pollute our water and air, we
gain significantly increase the health of American citizens and people around the world.
2. Responsibility
Judge, e-waste poses a major challenge to our generation. By enacting the Affirmative
plan we will be taking the first step in the right direction. The health and life of
Americans and of humanity around the world is in danger. Vote Affirmative for life and
responsibility. I now stand open for cross-examination.