Where Do Old Cell Phones Go To Die Analysis

Did you know that on average Americans replace their cell phones every 22 months? Do we throw them away because they lose their value to us, or because there is something newer and more able to do the things we are told we “need”? Consumerists are always looking for the most modern and advanced piece of high tech to replace their old ones, which were just as new and exciting to us as these ones were when we upgraded to them, from our old ones. It’s a pursuit of the american dream, of being the most up to date and in style. In her article “Where Do Old Cellphones Go to Die?”, Leyla Acaroglu dives further into the matter and sheds light on just how and where our old technology is ending up. Bringing attention to the health risks of the children and women in third-world countries, and the bills that were never passed in the US to make for safer recycling. She pushes for us consumers to make a difference in the afterlife of our technology, not just our cell phones- our old computers, televisions, and things of that sort, think of all the things you’ve unknowingly sent off for someone else to deal with and how you could change it. It has become common today to dismiss the importance of proper recycling for e-waste, people do not

There is one specific that Acaroglu brings to attention in this article, one that would make it illegal for americans to traffic and export all of our e-trash! This bill is known as “The Responsible Electronics Recycling Act”, introduced in 2011, unfortunately it was not put to a vote. I question this personally, who wouldn’t want to put an end to harming others in third world countries for our own selfishness? American as a whole is selfish, only considering themselves and not caring for anyone who gets hurt in the way. Is there a way to put this bill back in to be considered to be put to vote? If more people were educated on the effects I believe we could really make a