Lesson video

Hello.

My name is Mrs. Jones, and I'm really pleased you decided to join this lesson today.

In this lesson, we will look at recycling and e-waste.

E-Waste is any electronic or electrical product that has been thrown away, and if not done properly, can cause lots of issues and harm to others.

Can also cause you as the owner harm if you have not removed all of the data on the device properly.

So let's get started and learn about making sure a device is wiped of all data and recycled safely and correctly.

Welcome to today's lesson.

Today's lesson is called "Recycling and E-Waste" from the unit, "From unboxed to recycle: the journey of a digital device.

" And by the end of this lesson, you'll be able to explain the environmental and ethical impacts of a device's end of life and how to reduce them.

There are two keywords to today's lesson.

Recycle.

Recycle is to convert waste into reusable material.

Electronic waste, e-waste.

Electronic waste is discarded electrical or electronic equipment like phones, laptops, and batteries.

There are two sections to today's lesson.

The first is describe why data should be wiped before disposal.

And the second, suggest actions to reduce e-waste.

So let's start with describe why data should be wiped before disposal.

Why might someone want to discard a device?

Sam says, "The device might be old or outdated.

Older devices can sometimes run slowly or have reduced battery life.

" Sophia says, "Devices may break.

Sometimes it's more cost effective to replace a device than to repair it.

" And Alex says, "An individual or organization may not have use for the device anymore.

" What do you do with a device when you no longer need it?

Sam says, "I give my old devices to my younger sister.

" It's a really nice idea.

Sophia says, "I sell my old devices to someone else so they can use it.

" And Alex says, "I recycle my old devices.

" When a device such as a computer, smartphone, or tablet, is disposed of, sold, or recycled, it may still contain data.

Simply deleting files on a device does not always remove the data completely.

Data wiping is a process that overwrites the entire hard drive of a device with new data, zeros or random characters, and this totally replaces the original data.

Let's have a quick check.

True or false?

Deleting files on a device is the same as wiping data.

Pause the video to consider if that is true or false and why, and then we'll check your answer.

Let's check your answer.

The answer was false.

Simply deleting files on a device does not always remove the data completely.

Wiping data properly overwrites or removes everything so no one can recover the original data.

Well done if you got that correct.

It is important to ensure data is totally removed or wiped from a device before disposal because: Devices may store personal information such as passwords, addresses, and bank details.

Data recovered from devices may be used for malicious purposes, for example, hacking accounts.

The General Data Protection Regulation, GDPR, is a UK and European standard to protect individuals and regulates how companies and organizations may collect, hold, and use personal data.

Under laws such as the GDPR, organizations must protect personal data.

Not wiping data before disposal could break the law, result in fines, damage an organization's reputation.

Let's have a quick check.

List three types of data that might be found on an old smartphone, and explain one risk if that data is not wiped.

Pause the video to consider your answers, and then we'll check them.

Let's check your answers.

So the first was list three types of data that might be found on an old smartphone.

So we could have passwords saved for apps or websites, emails with personal information in them, bank or payment details from shopping apps.

And the second part was explain one risk if that data is not wiped.

Someone with malicious intent could hack into your accounts to access more information or make unauthorized payments.

Well done if you got those correct.

Let's do the activity.

A school sells teachers old laptops when they need to be upgraded with new devices.

A buyer of a laptop recovers student records and personal details from the device.

Describe why the school should have wiped data before selling them.

Pause the video to complete that activity, and then we'll go through the answer.

Let's check your answer.

Deleting files and documents is not always good enough.

The school should have wiped the data before selling the laptops because the laptops still had private information on them.

This information belongs to students and should be kept private and confidential.

The school may also have broken the GDPR law and could be fined.

If the data is not wiped, people with malicious intent could see names, addresses, or school records, which is not safe.

Wiping the data makes sure no one can get the information and helps keep students safe.

Well done if you got that correct.

Let's move on to the second part of today's lesson.

Suggest actions to reduce e-waste.

Electronic waste, also known as e-waste, is discarded electrical or electronic equipment.

And examples include smartphones, laptops, tablets, TVs, monitors, cables, chargers, batteries, and household appliances.

E-waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the world.

A record 62 million tons of e-waste was produced in 2022, which was up 82% from 2010.

That's enough to fill 1.

55 million 40 ton trucks.

That's a lot of e-waste.

And it is predicted that e-waste will rise another 32% to 82 million tons in 2030.

Unfortunately, less than one quarter of the year's e-waste in 2022 was documented as having been properly collected and recycled.

E-waste contains valuable materials like silver, copper, gold, aluminium, and rare earth elements, but it also has hazardous substances, lead, mercury, cadmium, brominated flame retardants.

This makes e-waste both valuable and dangerous.

Aisha says, "What happens if e-waste is not recycled or disposed of properly?

" Really good question and concerning one, considering how little was recycled from those statistics you saw.

If not handled properly, e-waste can: release toxic chemicals into soil and water, pollute air when burned, harm human health or cause injury, contribute to climate change through resource loss.

Informal recycling methods, for example, open burning, are especially harmful.

Communities near informal recycling sites face the highest risks.

You can see here the image of one of those recycling sites, the informal ones.

Absorbing toxic chemicals into the bloodstream, cuts and burns, respiratory problems, increased risk of chronic diseases later in life.

Let's have a quick check.

Why is e-waste a problem if it is not handled properly?

Is it A, it makes devices more expensive to buy; B, it can release toxic chemicals which harm human health; or C, it increases internet usage?

Pause the video to consider your answer, and then we'll check it.

Let's check your answer.

The answer was B, it can release toxic chemicals which harm human health.

Well done if you got that correct.

Aisha says, "What can I do to help reduce e-waste?

" Really good and sensible question.

As individuals, we can help to reduce e-waste and the effects of e-waste by: Using devices for longer, not upgrading so quickly.

Repairing devices instead of replacing them.

Donating working devices.

Recycling devices through approved schemes.

A modular smartphone is a smartphone that is designed to allow users to swap out components when they stop working or when upgrades are available.

For example, a user may upgrade the camera on their smartphone.

This helps to prevent e-waste as people upgrade and maintain existing devices rather than replacing them.

Organizations and governments can reduce e-waste and the effects of e-waste by: designing products that are repairable; improving collection and recycling schemes; creating and enforcing regulations that place the responsibility of e-waste recycling on manufacturers and retailers; ensuring that e-waste does not end up in landfills and is not exported to countries with lower environmental standards.

The Basel Convention is an international treaty that prohibits developed countries from transporting various types of hazardous waste, including e-waste to developing countries.

Exporting to developing countries is still the cheapest way of dealing with e-waste, and products can be exported for reuse if they are not yet classified as waste.

The vehicles used to transport the e-waste also use fossil fuels, which increases the environmental impact of exporting e-waste.

Let's have a quick check.

According to the Basel Convention, which one of these must e-waste be classified as for it to be allowed to be exported from developed countries to developing countries?

Pause the video and have a look whether you think that is A, waste, B, toxic, or C, reusable, and then we'll go through the answer.

Let's check your answer.

The answer was C, reusable.

Well done if you got that correct.

Let's do the activity.

Aisha is concerned about her contributions to e-waste and the negative impacts on the environment.

Suggest actions Aisha could take to reduce her own e-waste.

Pause the video to complete the activity, and then we'll go through the solution.

Let's have a look at the solution.

Aisha could try to keep her things for longer instead of getting new ones all the time.

If a device breaks, she could ask a grownup to help fix it instead of throwing it away.

She could also give old devices that still work to someone else who needs them, like a friend or a charity.

If something really can't be used anymore, Aisha could make sure it gets taken to a proper recycling center so the dangerous parts don't harm the environment.

She could also try not to buy cheap gadgets that break quickly and contribute to e-waste.

Well done if you got that correct and for completing the activity.

In summary, data stored on devices should be wiped before disposal.

Deleting files is not always enough.

Data can still sometimes be recovered unless the device is properly wiped or reset.

Some devices include chemicals and metals that can damage the environment if not recycled safely.

Passing on devices safely reduces the need for new ones and using approved recycling schemes ensures materials are reused safely.

Well done for completing this lesson, recycling and e-waste.