| We all use them and despite the fact that most | | | | countries. |
| of the mobile phones, mp3 players and other | | | | Energy use |
| devices having only been around a decade or so | | | | Whilst the amount of power our gadgets use is |
| – many of us are completely dependent on | | | | only slight – it can all add up. If everybody |
| them. | | | | who uses these small battery powered devices |
| Not only are the latest gadgets useful and an | | | | charged them up using solar powered chargers, |
| important parts of our day-to-day lives they are | | | | then the cumulative energy saving would be huge. |
| also fashion and status symbols with many people | | | | Also there is a great deal of CO2 emissions |
| changing to the latest and next generation phone | | | | generated in their production and use. Think of |
| or iPod every year or so. | | | | those huge mobile phone transmitters and the |
| However, there are environmental down sides to | | | | amount of power they require – not to |
| our mobile phone use and dependence on other | | | | mention all the energy that went into mining the |
| gadgets: | | | | materials and assembling the devices in the first |
| Recycling | | | | place. |
| One of the major problems with mobile phones is | | | | Eco friendly use |
| their lack of recyclable material. Whilst some of | | | | You can cut down on the environmental impact |
| the alloys and materials used (such as gold) can | | | | of mobile phones and other gadgets by following |
| be extracted, there are other toxic chemicals and | | | | these two rules: |
| materials that can't. Some of these heavy metals | | | | - As mentioned use solar powered chargers, this |
| and materials can be a menace to both human | | | | will reduce your carbon footprint when you use |
| health and the environment. These metals can get | | | | them, although it won;t reduce it to zero as the |
| into water tables causing pollution and other | | | | transmitters still have to be powered. |
| problems. | | | | - Don't replace your mobile phone or other device |
| Mobile phones and other gadgets also mount up | | | | until absolutely necessary. This will not only reduce |
| on landfills as they don't degrade. Often they are | | | | the amount of toxic materials that your disposed |
| shipped abroad to developing countries causing | | | | gadget but will also reduce the impact of |
| even more problems for the people and | | | | manufacturing a new phone. |
| environments in some of the world's poorest | | | | |