Recycling to Stop E-waste | Kady McKenna | TEDxYouth@ElliotStreet

Summary

The speaker recounts their personal journey with electronic devices, highlighting the growing issue of e-waste. They founded e-treasure Incorporated, a non-profit aiming to recycle, refurbish, and redistribute electronic devices, reducing environmental impact. The script also addresses the global health crisis caused by improper e-waste disposal, particularly in impoverished nations, and introduces the e-treasure school leaders program to bridge the digital divide and empower students through technology.

Takeaways

• 📱 The speaker has owned 13 electronic devices since their first one, emphasizing the prevalence of technology in modern life.
• 👶 Born in 2009, the speaker received their first iPad before their first birthday, highlighting the early integration of electronics in children's lives.
• 📚 The average U.S. household has over 25 connected devices, according to Deloitte's Mobile Connectivity Trends survey 2021, illustrating the ubiquity of electronics.
• 🗑 E-Waste is identified as the fastest-growing waste problem globally, with over 50 million tons generated annually, equivalent to 1,000 laptops per second.
• 💡 The idea for e-treasure, Incorporated was sparked by a realization about the environmental impact of discarded electronics and the lack of action to address it.
• 🌐 e-treasure, Incorporated is a 501c3 non-profit organization aimed at recycling, refurbishing, and redistributing electronic devices to reduce e-waste.
• 🏫 The speaker initiated collection drives at schools and created online platforms to gather donations of old electronic devices for recycling.
• 🔒 The importance of securely erasing personal information from recycled devices is emphasized, with certified electronics recyclers ensuring data privacy.
• ♻️ The script discusses the harmful effects of improper e-waste recycling, including the exposure of workers to toxic chemicals and the environmental impact.
• 🌍 It points out the issue of developed countries illegally shipping e-waste to impoverished nations, causing severe health and environmental crises.
• 📚 The e-treasure school leaders program encourages students to start collection drives at their schools, promoting environmental awareness and community service.
• 🔗 The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the digital divide, with e-treasure, Incorporated's efforts aiming to bridge this gap by providing devices for online learning.

Q & A

How many electronic devices has the speaker personally owned since their first?

The speaker has personally owned 13 electronic devices since their first.

What was the first electronic device the speaker received as a gift?

The first electronic device the speaker received was an iPad for Christmas when they were less than a year old.

What is the average number of connected devices per U.S. household according to Deloitte's Mobile Connectivity Trends survey 2021?

The average U.S. household holds over 25 connected devices and more than two TVs.

What is the term used for discarded electronic devices?

Discarded electronic devices are referred to as E-Waste or electronic waste.

How does the Environmental Protection Agency describe the growth rate of E-Waste globally?

The Environmental Protection Agency states that E-Waste is the fastest-growing waste problem in the world.

What is the approximate annual generation of E-Waste in tons, according to the EPA?

People generate over 50 million tons of E-Waste every year.

What is the estimated worth of the E-Waste generated annually?

The annual E-Waste is approximately worth between 300,000 to 3 million US dollars.

What inspired the speaker to start thinking about the issue of E-Waste?

The speaker was inspired to think about E-Waste while discussing resource use wisely during a Girl Scouts meeting when they were six years old.

What is the name of the non-profit organization the speaker started to address E-Waste?

The non-profit organization the speaker started is called e-treasure Incorporated.

What is the main goal of e-treasure Incorporated?

The main goal of e-treasure Incorporated is to recycle, refurbish, and redistribute electronic devices back into the community to keep the environment free of E-Waste.

What is the average time a cell phone user in the U.S. upgrades their phone according to CEO Today?

The average cell phone user in the U.S. upgrades their phone every 22 months.

What is the e-treasure school leaders program and what is its purpose?

The e-treasure school leaders program is an initiative to encourage students to start collection drives at their schools, aiming to make a measurable impact on the environment and bridge the digital divide.

How does the speaker suggest we can turn e-trash into e-treasure?

The speaker suggests that by recycling, refurbishing, and redistributing electronic devices, we can turn e-trash into e-treasure that can change lives and help bridge the digital divide.

What is the digital divide and why is it significant in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic?

The digital divide refers to the socio-economic gap between populations with unequal access to digital connectivity. It is significant in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic because it highlights the disparity in access to online learning and digital resources.