EcoATM and Management of E-waste - Coursework Example

Empirical approach to contemporary issues on ecology and sustainability - ecoATM as an innovation Name Class Unit Introduction There has been an increase in concerns on our impact on environment due to our lifestyles. This has led to calls for a more sustainable approach on our consumption habits especially in the electronics industry (Babu, Parande & Basha, 2007). The short lifecycles and a rapid developing technology have led to an increase in e-waste. Most of the e-waste ends up in landfills which harm the environment. This has led to development of e-waste recycling. An ecoATM kiosk is one of the initiatives which are meant to accept old mobile devices and recycle or give them a second life hence saving the environment (ecoATM, 2017). Through ecoATM, it has been possible for the consumers to securely recycle electronic devices in a safe and reliable manner (Hiskes, 2011). This essay offers an empirical approach to contemporary issues on ecology and sustainability. The essay focuses on ecoATM as an innovation that has been developed to tackle an environmental concern. This will include a detailed description of the organisation and use ecoATM to address e-waste as an environmental issue. Lastly, it will provide a critical analysis of its ecological implications using theories and including relevant information from the press. A detailed description of ecoATM and management of e-waste Most people replace mobile phones after an average of 22 months. The old devices are in most cases kept in drawers or ends up in landfills (Tanskanen, 2012). ecoATM is world first automated kiosk which buys used electronics from the consumers directly. According to their website ecoATM has been able to recycle more than 4 million mobile devices over the years and the number is increasing. The ecoATM kiosk utilises a worldwide auction where consumers are offered competitive prices for their old mobile devices. The very old mobile devices are safely and responsibly recycled using appropriate technology. This is through partnering with R2 certified e-waste management facilities to ensure responsible recycling and reusing. ecoATM is a product from Outerwall Inc. (Nasdaq: OUTR). The company collaborates with national, state and local law enforcement authorities to ensure that there is no mobile phone theft. This ensures that the products brought in for recycling are not from theft (Hiskes, 2011). The firm has gained certification on electronic recycling based on Responsible Recycling (R2) and ISO14001 certification. The firm has also received the ISO27001 certification to ensure that there is personal data security. Outerwell has over 20 years’ experience and has locations in Canada, USA, Puerto Rico, Ireland and United Kingdom (ecoATM, 2017). The rapid changing technology has led to an increase in e-waste. At the moment, the level of e-waste is estimated to be 3 times that of the municipal waste (Widmer et al., 2005). Despite their importance in communicating, mobile phones can have a huge impact on the environment. This is due to the hazardous materials that are used in the manufacture of mobile phones. A mobile phone has hazardous materials which includes cadmium and lead. Recycling mobile phones makes it possible to avoid hazardous materials to leak into the environment and also saves the resources. If mobile phones are not disposed off properly, they have a high possibility of creating a toxic landfill. This can leach to the soil and groundwater leading to serious environmental and human impacts. The ecoATM approach to this problem is aimed at preserving the environment and ensuring that all materials in a mobile phone are recovered safely (ecoATM, 2017). Despite containing harmful components, mobile phones contain valuable minerals such as copper, gold and silver which can be retrieved and reused. This helps in preserving and protecting mining resources. The firm aims at raising awareness on recycling of old and unused mobile phones. Most of the old and unused mobile phones are stored at homes increasing the potential of recycling (Tanskanen, 2013). At the moment, there are few safe methods for disposal for the waste which is seen as a health and environmental hazard. The approach by ecoATM is one of the best ways to deal with the environmental and health impacts of waste mobile devices. This is through refurbishing and recycling of the mobile devices. Mobile phones that have been brought to the ecoATM at a good condition are refurbished and sent to other users. Users of ecoATM are able to gain cash return for recycling their devices. The stakeholders involved in the ecoATM are the customers, ewaste reclamation facilities, investors and law enforcement. The e-waste reclamation facilities works together with the ecoATM to ensure that there is appropriate disposal and recycling of mobile phones. There is also collaboration with investors to ensure that the program is able to run and expand your various countries. Law enforcement ensures that there is no sale for stolen mobile devices in the ecoATMs (ecoATM, 2017). This has made it possible for ecoATM to run in a smooth manner and avoid legal issues. A critical analysis and ecological implications To attain a sustainable ecosystem, appropriate waste management is vital. Sustainable future relies on the ability to reduce and manage waste appropriately (Grimm et al., 2008). The ewaste management carried out by ecoATM has the ability to help in sustainable ecological system (ecoATM, 2017). Resource recycling is one of the most vital ecological civilisations. This is due to fact that the firm is able to reduce the level of environmental pollution and resource extraction (Davis & Wolski, 2009). Moreover, this has helped in reducing hazardous wastes in the landfill. Circular using of resource is seen as a means of economic development ecologicalisaton. To come up with circular economy, ecology acts as a major foundation. It is important to note that the resource carrying capacity as well as the cleaning capacity of the environment is limited (Ghisellini, Cialani & Ulgiati, 2016). Thus, when pollution and resource exploitation is over a given limit, there is likelihood of environmental problems. This has an impact on the survival of the future generations (Liu & Wu, 2016). ecoATM recycling of the used and old mobile phones makes it possible to ensure there is controlled resource exploitation and level of pollution is controlled. Moreover, ecoATM can be looked as a resource circulation system which helps reduce resource consumption and pollution (Hiskes, 2011). This contributes to social stability and leads to a balanced and sustainable development. This is based on the ecological threshold theory. When there is lack of balance in resource utilisation, there is likelihood of resource exploitation. According to the ecological balance theory, the balance of an ecosystem is based on the ability to have a dynamic balance between input and output of materials (Liu & Wu, 2016). The actions by ecoATM ensure that this balance is maintained in the ecosystem. This is due to fact that the materials recovered from the used phones such as copper, silver and gold helps in reducing resource exploitation. It also reduces the level of pollution which enhances the natural ecological balance. Through recycling, it is possible to reduce the level of environmental pollution and resource consumption (Robinson, 2009). Based on the ecological niche theory, it is possible to see how ecoATM is able to develop a resource circulation industry. In addition the symbiotic relationship that exists between industries has helped ecoATM to succeed in recycling mobile devices. This is due to fact that the organisation is able to collaborate with different waste disposal firms to create a win-win environment (Widmer et al., 2005). It is clear that resource circulation carried out by ecoATM is in line with the ecological theory. Industrial ecology involves reusing and recycling waste coming from industrial and consumer activities. This is based on support for efficient use of resources, reducing environmental impacts and ensuring an economic success (Lifset & Graedel, 2002). The ecoATM approach is able to create wealth from the waste through an optimised resource recycling. Due to their nature, materials such as copper, gold and silver from the mobile phones can be reused without loss of their properties (ecoATM, 2017). This makes the approach by ecoATM to have a lot of positive impacts in addition to the ecological impacts. ecoATM follows the waste management principles which are eliminating, reduction, reuse, recovery and disposal. According to waste management, elimination has the highest priority while disposal is given the lowest priority (Savaskan, Bhattacharya & Van Wassenhove, 2004). From their website, most of the recovered mobile phones are reused while the rest are recycled. For the mobile phones which cannot be reused, the recycling process is used to ensure a circular flow (Davis & Wolski, 2009). This has helped in enhancing material efficiency since it is only a small part of the produced waste is left on the environment. Use of sustainable supply chain networks has been supported for the ability to reduce waste in the product lifecycle. This is through analysing all aspects of supply chain and coming up with decisions that can reduce waste (Liu & Wu, 2016). This is especially at the conceptual and design phase of a product (Robinson, 2009). Unfortunately, the old phones were manufactured with poor disposal methods in their lifecycle. This is what has made ecoATM a major tool in addressing electronic waste from mobile phones. At the moment, there are still issues with the concept and design of the mobile phones where the manufacturers have no plans at the early stage of product development. Few phone manufacturers have plans to reduce electronic waste from the mobile phones as well as means to dispose them (Tanskanen, 2013). The mobile phone manufacturers are expected to come up with mobile phones which are easy to dismantle to reduce waste that is not reusable. ecoATM approach to old mobile phones closes the loop in a circular supply chain. This is a recycling service which leads to a supply chain different from the conventional linear supply chain (Savaskan, Bhattacharya & Van Wassenhove, 2004). The services provided by ecoATM helps in rethinking mobile phones supply chain. Most of the materials that are used in making the mobile phones can be recycled which can help in reducing the environmental impacts (Tanskanen, 2013). Using a closed loop supply chain, it becomes possible to have efficiency in manufacture and disposal of mobile phones. While the approach by the ecoATM is very vital and innovative in mobile phone end of lifecycle, there is need for a collaborative approach with mobile phone manufacturers. This would include mobile phone manufactures partnering with ecoATM to increase the number of recycling centres globally. This will make the approach more cost effective and also promote a closed loop supply chain (Savaskan, Bhattacharya & Van Wassenhove, 2004). An example of the initiative is Plug-In To eCycling whose partners include LG electronics, Nokia and Samsung (CSR Wire, 2017). The move involves raising awareness to mobile phone users on the recycling opportunities available. Collaboration with mobile phone manufacturers would lead to high number of mobile phones being recycled. It would also support the manufacturers to come up with better manufacturing methods which ensure that their products have minimal negative impacts on the ecology (Kiddee, Naidu & Wong, 2013). ecoATM remains a major partner in recycling of electronic products and has helped a lot in reduction of electronic waste. It also supports awareness on proper disposal on the electronic waste such as mobile devices. Conclusion To sum up, negative ecological impacts of disposed electronic waste is high. ecoATM approach to managing environmental concerns raised by the ewaste is appropriate and timely. This has allowed the consumers to gain value for their old and unused phones while at the same time maintaining ecological balance. The actions by ecoATM have made it possible to reduce the amount of harmful mobile phone components that ends up in landfill. The move ensures that the impact of technology on the environment is reduced. This is a safe and secure way in which consumers can dispose-off their unused electronic devices. Through working with a range of stakeholders, the innovative approach has been a success. The innovative approach is supported by several ecological theories. Despite this, it is possible to enhance ecoATM approach through collaboration with mobile phone manufacturers. This will lead to a cyclical supply chain through a closed loop. References Babu, B. R., Parande, A. K., & Basha, C. A. 2007, ‘Electrical and electronic waste: a global environmental problem’, Waste Management & Research, Vol.25, no.4, pp. 307-318. 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