Waste Management Project

Consciously being eco-friendly is a choice that many businesses have recently become aware of, as many consumers seek out products that are eco-friendly for the environment. Consumers seek eco-friendly products because feel they are doing a good deed and their purchases have a double purpose as being a contributor of keeping the environment clean. Everyday people throw trash away not realizing how detrimental it is to the health and environment. Not participating in eco-friendly purchases are adding to the high level of toxic fumes that are currently polluting the oxygen that we breathe, body of waters, and at times even the water we drink. Businesses like Dell are now more conscious about their electronic waste (e-waste) disposal processes and making sure they meet health and environment regulations implemented by waste management organizations.  Even though waste management is recognized worldwide there are still countries that are not up to par when it comes to being in compliance with waste management regulations. Brazil is currently one of fifty countries considered to be a waste dumpsite.

        There are many companies exporting old electronics, legally and illegally, to developing countries that are causing people to be exposed to hazardous materials. These old and nonworking electronics are dumped into landfills. The burning of these electronics creates toxic waste and contaminates the air, land, and bodies of water resulting in an increase of many illnesses in these developing countries. Dell has attempted to deter contribution to these e-waste landfills by banning the export of old and unusable electronics since 2009 into developing countries that have no regulations of proper disposal of e-waste. Dell, has implemented recycling programs within their company like Closed-Loop Recycled. In this program Dell will recycle all the plastics from electronic items that have been returned by consumers for any reason or recall items. Then, they sort and shred all recycled electronics in order to mold and manufacture them. After, they are assembled and shipped out for purchase and use by consumers.  With this program Dell is not only helping the environment by lowering carbon but also saving on the costs of production.

The dumping of waste in Brazil, specifically for areas such as Guanabara Bay and Rio, has continued to worsen despite some recent effort by the Brazilian government to improve the situation. As a result of the continued sewage, the amount of pollution from trash and fecal matter in the water and in the landfills has steadily increased. People nearby, mainly the poor, are suffering from many diseases as well as rashes, diarrhea, pneumonia, and bronchitis. With rain worsening the cracks in local water pipes, some people have no source of clean water, forcing them to purchase expensive bottled water daily. The neighboring environment has also taken a hit with piles of trash, mainly plastic, floating in the bay and filling up the streets. The overflow of waste from landfills is poising the water supply, land, and air, making people unable to grow food or sustain any new life. In some areas, dump gases consume the air making it hard to breathe or see. Despite the conditions and the last round of tests done far from shore showing severe contamination, the 2016 Olympics are still scheduled to begin later this week. As a result, athletes will be exposed to sewage and bacteria in the Olympic waterways for events such as windsurfing, sailing, and swimming, possibly causing the cancellation of matches. Officials have reported the recent removal of nearly fifty tons of dead fish from the bay in order to host the water competitions and will continue cleaning up the surrounding areas up until the event. Although it appears that the government is attempting to improve the situation, real, long-term waste management solutions will have to be implemented soon to save the affected environment and poor communities.