Abstract
I would like to have the report not too professional make it as student one please.
the topic about the life cycle of cell phones and there are
four different aspects for the cell phones each one is individual report for no more than 250 words the first one,
1.the social sustainability of the Materials extraction for cell phones. I want no more than 250 words about this one
life cycle of cell phones
2.the impact of Environment. by Manufacturing cell phones no more than 250 words.
life cycle of cell phones
3.the economic principles for the Use of cell phones.no more than 250 words
life cycle of cell phones
4.the governance about the Recycling/Disposal. no more than 250 wor
life cycle of cell phones
Introduction
The phones have shrunk in size over the years while have become technologically advanced in their features and functionality. Technological breakthroughs and cellular infrastructure have made cell phones possible. Still, the cell phone like every other product has a life cycle. The product gets born, lives a life and then dies off. When it is designed and assembled with different parts, it gets born and lives while the consumer is using it and dies when it is discarded by its user. Once a Cell phone; life is over, it gets thrown in the trash or recycled. The complete phase of its making, usage and getting discarded is known as the life cycle of cell phones. Millions of phones are getting piled in landfills, and those numbers are expected to grow exponentially worldwide (Bharodiya and Kayasth, 2012).
Social sustainability of the Materials extraction for cell phones
The first step in the life cycle of mobile phones is the extraction of raw materials and their processing. Antimony, beryllium, platinum, and palladium are the main metals used in mobile devices. These metals are mined and processed for manufacturing and often their extraction carries economic issues and conflicts with best practices. The geological challenges and extraction leave the largest impact on the cost of materials and trade policies (Case Study on Critical Metals in Mobile Phones, 2016). Different raw materials are extracted from the earth for production of mobile phones. For example, in order to make the powerful capacitors, a rare metal called tantalum is extracted. Other materials such as metals, glass, engineered plastics are repaired to make screws and inserts, foams and labels as well as coatings and paints. The circuitry and displays in the cell phone contain toxic compounds such as beryllium, cadmium, arsenic, gold, lead, nickel, copper, and lead worldwide (Bharodiya and Kayasth, 2012). The plastic covering of the cell phones is made of a treated flammable material. The manufacturing process requires sand and limestone for fiberglass and crude oil for plastic. Those materials can stay in the environment for a long time as toxins. Different types of machinery of the cell phone like batteries are made from liquid substances that are extracted from mine or land.
The first step in the life cycle of mobile phones is the extraction of raw materials and their processing. Antimony, beryllium, platinum, and palladium are the main metals used in mobile devices. These metals are mined and processed for manufacturing and often their extraction carries economic issues and conflicts with best practices. The geological challenges and extraction leave the largest impact on the cost of materials and trade policies (Case Study on Critical Metals in Mobile Phones, 2016).
The impact on Environment by manufacturing cell phones
The manufacturing and sale of cellphones have increased manifold. Cadmium, which is used in chip resistors and semiconductors is toxic and bioaccumulative. Mercury is found in discharge lamps, batteries, and printed circuit boards can eventually makes its way into the water and ends up in food (Bharodiya and Kayasth, 2012).The assembly and packaging of cell phone require paper and plastic and use of those materials leave a negative impact on the environment because of cutting trees and throwing away of plastics that are non-recyclable. The composition of e-waste is made of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, concrete and ceramics, printed circuit boards, glass, plastics, etc.When the cell phone gets processed, burned or recycled, the toxicity of pollutants is very high. Carbon dioxide spreads in the environment during metal processing and thins the ozone layer and that further leads to climate changes. If the disposal of cell phones is not handled correctly, the presence of toxic substances in the environment can have serious repercussions and damage human health. Unused parts of the cell phone often are thrown away in the environment, and this affects the geological structure of seas, lands, human health, wildlife, sea animals and trees (Cecil, 2008). The toxic chemicals leave a negative impact on the environment and human health. Those toxins enter the food chain and accumulate in the human body leading to sever health problems. The problem of improper disposal of the cellphone is turning into a major one, and the management is only aggravating the problem of toxic and non-biodegradable waste.
The economic principles for the Use of cell phones
Cell phones carry a thriving reuse market and thus offer the opportunity to make comparisons of reuse and recycling for e-waste and the supply chains. Voluntary or mandatory diversions from landfills and collection programs lead to a recycling of e-waste. It is seen that more handsets are reused than recycled.Economic data gathered on cell phones show that only proper collection, reuse, and recycling can show profitability. Currently, the profit margin on cell phone recycling is small while reuse shows a higher profit margin. Refurbishers collecting cell phones remain profitable as long as their reuse return remains higher than 50% (Geyer & Doctori, 2010). The main challenge here is to lower the hibernation period of end-of-use handsets as most cell phone owners tend to keep their mobiles beyond their life cycle and resale. The cell phone manufacturers face an economic threat as the potential of reuse can eat up the market of new cell phone sales. The refurbishers carry low interest in the displacement dynamics of reuse of cell phones, and this is because their profitability relies on the reuse yield and not the displacement rate. However, it is seen that reuse and recycling activities plus a displaced production lead to poorly aligned economic incentives with the environmental performance of reuse of cell phones. It is essential to keep an eye on the economic performance of the reuse, and recycling operations and make an economics analysis so as to understand the business models. The operational strategies and challenges that lie beneath the closed-loop supply chains need to be examined.
The governance about the Recycling/Disposal
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets certain standards measures for air and water pollution control measures (Summary of the Clean Air Act, 2016). The purpose behind is to safeguard human health and the environment from any pollutants and toxins. The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), records the releases of toxic pollutants in the environment (Davies and Probst 8). There is an increasing concern from environmental organizations to find effective solutions for recycling and disposal of cell phones and the growing e-waste. Every 18 m, the average user gets a new phone and pass on the old one to family members or sell them. Federal Trade Commission's Disposal Rule states that proper disposal of cellphone includes not just the equipment but the consumer information too. Mobile Devices and chargers carry a number of toxic materials such as lead and cadmium that can contaminate the soil, water and air. Thus, a responsible disposal of recycling and disposal of the mobile phone is important. The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation or RBRC is a non-profit public service organization that takes care of old cell phones and batteries. There are other campaigns and charitable resources that act in an environmentally and socially responsible manner to take care of old mobiles (FYI: How to Dispose of your Mobile Phone, 2016). There are no strict guidelines and adequate infrastructure for disposing e–waste. It is essential to raise awareness and implements stronger guidelines to protect human health and the environment. If recycling and disposal are not handled properly, the toxic components of the cell phones can easily contaminate soil, water and enter the food chain.
References
Bharodiya Anil K. and Kayasth Manish M.(2012). Impact of Cell Phones’ Life Cycle On Human And Environment: Challenges And Recommendations. Journal of Environmental Research and Development, 7(1), 530–536.
Cecil, L. (2008). Corporate social responsibility reporting in the United States. McNair Scholars Research Journal, 1(1)
FYI: How to Dispose of your Mobile Phone (2016). Americanbar. Retrieved from http://www.americanbar.org/groups/departments_offices/legal_technology_resources/resources/charts_fyis/mobiledisposal.html
Geyer, R., & Doctori Blass, V. (2010). The economics of cell phone reuse and recycling. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 47(5), 515-525.
Kenney, R. (2010). Classification Publishing Workflow Featured Settings Delete Content Clean Air Act, United States. Clean Air Act, United States, 1(1), 1–2. Kreider, R. (2001). Regulating Government. Resources for the Future, 1(1), 1–45.
Summary of the Clean Air Act. (2016). epa Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-clean-air-act
