This project focuses on E-Waste, which is a common interest of the authors in response to the global aim at attaining Sustainable Development. It proposes actions to reach this goal and a reflection on the knowledge gained.
Contents (go to): wE-Waste ¦ Sustainable Development ¦ E-Waste ¦ Impact of E-Waste ¦ Project ¦ Reflection
wE-Waste
This is a student project which was carried out as part of our course work for a University Wide Module UW0012 Global Citizenship and Development Education, run by the Praxis Project and the School of Education. Course lecturer was Dr Gertrude Cotter.
We are
Julie O’Callaghan: I’m doing a part time course in UCC – Environment, Climate and Sustainability.
Joanne Moller: I am a final year English student at UCC.
Imelda Sheehan: I’m a member of staff in UCC since 2000, working in Administration.
Grace Byers: I am a final year digital humanities and information technology student in UCC.
This project was scripting a documentary which we titled ‘The life of your phone’. In it we looked at some of the issues around mobile phones: from the mining of the core minerals in countries with poor regulation to the options available when the phone eventually breaks.
Photo: Shooting incidence at Kasenseli gold mine saddening – https://www.africa-press.net/zambia/all-news/shooting-incidence-at-kasenseli-gold-mine-saddening. |
Image reproduced from Video ‘Overpopulation and our Environment’ Anthony Cappel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7lrCMoZKUU. |
Why we chose this Project
[Julie] I was drawn to the documentary project as I think documentaries are important in imparting information and getting people’s stories heard. It was also an opportunity to focus on issues related to my course of study.
[Joanne] I chose this project because I am generally interested in learning about issues that I was not aware of before and educating myself about them is a step closer to being a good global citizen. This group-project particularly interested me as documentaries are a very effective way to reach and educate people.
[Imelda] I’ve a keen interest in Sustainability, Doughnut Economics, and Global Issues; therefore, the opportunity to work on a documentary – on a current Sustainability issue – as part of a Group caught my attention. As a Group, we initially discussed different topics of interest to each of us and by our 2nd meeting, we agreed on “e-Waste” as being the focus of our project.
[Grace] I chose to take this module because I wanted to increase my knowledge on how to be a more active member in my community in fighting social issues. This project allowed me to gain new skills in documentary development production through the documentary workshops and writing the documentary script. It gave insight into how we can tackle injustices through different mediums.
Sustainable Development
Generally defined as ‘meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’.
Some have defined sustainable development by the balancing of three concepts or pillars: economic viability, environmental protection and social equality (fig 1). A more comprehensive concept centres around the 5 Ps: people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership.
Fig 1.
Sustainable Development Goals
Developed by the UN in 2015 as a framework for the world to develop sustainable policies and agendas.
Some of the SDGs that relate to our project:
Primarily SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production but also SDG8: Decent Work & Economic Growth, SDG13 Climate Action.
Limitations of SDGs
One limitation is that they aren’t legally binding and rely on individual countries to monitor and report their progress in achieving the goals. It’s also hard to see how the SDGs can succeed without addressing the economic system which underpins our society i.e. Neoliberalism. Some tenets of neoliberalism are: unfettered economic growth, privatisation of services and utilities, citizens/ people become consumers, tax cuts for the rich and a reduction in the role of the state. The pursuit of unhindered growth is fueling our overconsumption and has led to catastrophic effects on the environment and communities. A new economic model called ‘Doughnut Economics’, challenges this idea of growth. Instead, it seeks to keep economies within the planetary and social boundaries. There is also a push towards an adopting a circular economy where all materials are kept in use as much as possible (fig 2):
Fig 2.
E-Waste
E-Waste is the abandonment of electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptops, televisions and so on. These items can be repaired, reused, or recycled instead of ending up in landfills.
Photo by Emmet from Pexels.
Impact of E-Waste
- Electronic waste is a pressing issue and is evidently having a global impact.
- 53.6 million tonnes of E-waste was produced in 2019.
- Only 17% of E-waste was recycled sustainably.
- An estimated 50 tonnes of mercury is lost annually.
- It is estimated that the annual amount of E-waste will exceed 74 million tonnes in 2030.
- The value of the raw materials in the 2019 E-waste stream amounts to £44.8 million.
Photo from Pexels.
Statistics accredited to: https://s2s.uk.com/news/10-shocking-facts-from-the-global-e-waste-monitor/
Project
Planning
Initially, as a larger group, we posted some suggestions for topics. Out of this we split into two groups with our group focusing on an environmental theme. Planning this project, completely online and without any in-person meetings, was complicated, but thanks to the commitment of all the group members we managed to video-chat regularly. From the outset, our discussions were inclusive and everyone’s ideas were given due consideration. We all had different ideas, but through individual compromises and brainstorming we found common ground. It was good to have agreement on the topic before attending Peadar King’s workshops on making a documentary as they really helped us to focus on what to include in the script. Each member of the group took a scene for the documentary script to research and write. We created a format in Google Docs which allowed us to ensure a continuous flow through the scenes.
Framing
The script is framed through an environmental lens with a focus on sustainable consumption and management of e-waste. We also wanted to make the connection between our (the global North) consumption and usage of electronics to the mining industry, specifically cobalt mining in DRC.
Documentary Script
Scene 1: Introduction
Fade in
Relaxing background music, a woman looks at her old phone, right next to her is an open journal with an ad for the latest smartphone.
Narrator: Do any of you really know the “life” of your mobile phone?
She compares her phone and the new phone, and suddenly she remembers something. She stands up and walks to a drawer. She takes a deep breath and slowly opens it. It is filled with old phones, cables, chargers – relics of the past. She is about to put her newest “old” phone in and stops-
Narrator: Don’t you want to know where your mobile phone is from?
She sits down again, her mobile phone in her hand, she googles “old mobile phones”. She scrolls down, websites pop up about recycling, refurbishment and NHOs. She finds an Irish Times article “The Blood on your Phone why you must Recycle your old Mobile”.
Narrator: Let’s find out what the REAL cost of your mobile phone is!
She opens a video, the camera hovers over her shoulder and zooms in on her mobile phone video.
Cut to the video.
The reader sees a short montage of the working conditions of miners in DRC. The wastewater poisoning the rivers and drinking water, children working hard. Cobalt being harvested from the mines, then sent to the factories, put in the smartphone, sent to shops, and the camera is pointing back to her hand. Zoom out from her phone. She is shocked, and the camera moves right in front of her. We see her scrolling through her phone. Her phone chimes, a friend of her calls.
Split screen
Laura: Hii Izzy! Did you buy that new phone yet? You have been complaining about yours for so long!
Izzy: Oh Laura! I just looked up what I could do with my old phones and learned so much about the environmental impact. I seriously reconsider buying a new one…
Laura: It can’t be that bad! I mean, look at the size of it, it’s… just a piece of metal.
Izzy: But the conditions the miners have to endure are horrendous! The mines poison the water, there’s child labour and exploitations –
Laura: Oh god! No stop, I don’t even want to know more about this!
Izzy: But you should… it is so bad, it really affects everyone.
Laura: What will you do now? With your old phones?
Izzy: The good news is that I found some website about recycling, donating it, or repairing the one I have right now. For once, I want to do the “right” thing and be aware of how my decisions can have far-reaching consequences on others.
Laura: You should look into that! I have to go now, make the right decision!
Izzy: I will! Goodbye!
They hang up, end the split screen, focus on Izzy.
She clicks on the first link, a website for a repair shop.
Scene 2 – repair shop
The camera looks over Izzy’s shoulder as she looks up “electronic repairs”, there are many repair shops offering a variety of services. She clicks on the link for the website of a nearby repair shop and decides to take her old phones there… She grabs the bundle of old phones.
Cut to the repair shop. Izzy walks up to the counter, and takes out her phones. She has a Sony Ericsson K550, a Samsung Galaxy A8 with a cracked screen, an iPhone 7 with a broken screen, and a Huawei P20 with water damage.
Izzy: Hello! I wanted to ask whether you could repair some of my old phones.
Repair Person: Of course, let’s take a look.
They look at the phones. He puts two old phones on the left (Sony Ericsson and the Samsung) and the other two on the right (iPhone 7 and the Huawei P20)
After some deliberation…
Repair Person: Those two are too old to do anything with, we don’t have replacement screens or batteries for older models. I am sorry about that, but the manufacturers keep changing products and the parts become obsolete within just a few years.
He slides a Sony Ericsson and the Samsung over to Izzy.
Repair Person: But these two, I can repair. This iPhone 7’s screen is broken, we can easily replace it. Water damage to the Huawei may take time to dry out, we can get it working again, but it will only need a new battery.
Izzy: A few hours? That’s quick!
Repair Person: Yeah! I am glad that you came here before buying a new smartphone, most people buy the newest version every year. That is such a shame when their phone is completely repairable.If only people were aware of the raw materials and natural resources that are wasted every year, because people just buy new ones, not realising how easy and cost-effective it is to repair the mobile phones they already own.
Izzy: As long as it is not more expensive than a new phone!
Repair Person: We never charge more than the value of a phone, since the introduction of a new EU-law it is actually illegal to charge more for a repair than the actual value of the phone. The price always depends on what model you have and the extent of the damage, we are happy to offer prices that encourage people to choose the repair option.
Izzy: That’s a good initiative! Thank you so much for your help and advice!
Dialogue inaudible, we see Izzy leaving two phones at the repair shop and walking out.
She goes back home,and looks up alternatives.
She clicks on a recycling link.
Scene 3 : recycling
She opens the WEEE website and finds the address for her local recycling plant. She picks up her phone. Cut to her entering the recycling plant.
Recycling plant worker: Good after-noon, how may I help you?
Izzy: Hello! I have some questions about recycling my old phones. Could I ask you some questions about the topic?
RPW: Sure!
Izzy: Thank you. How important is it really that I recycle my phone instead of just throwing it into the refuse? After all it’s such a small object, it can’t be that bad.
Blend to the inner part of the recycling part. A pile of mobiles is pulled apart, with the RPS voice in the background.
RPW : It is crucial that you recycle your phone! Every phone that is not recycled is polluting the environment and wastes important resources that could have been used in new phones. Here we can safely take your phone apart and instead of putting them into a landfill or burning it.
Izzy: Wait, do I have to pay for the recycling?
Close up to the gold being pulled apart and put into boxes, being weighted and similar material
RPW: No, it’s completely free, you just have to drop by and hand it in, or you can check with your community whether you can just hand it to them. Your phone is filled with precious metals like gold, cobalt, and platin. When we recycle your phone, we extract those metals and sell them to other companies, this reduces the harmful mining all around the world!
Izzy: Wow that sounds good!
Camera back to the two talking
RPW: Alternatively, you can always donate your phone to an NGO who will donate the profit for people in need!
Izzy: That’s a great idea! Thank you so much for your help!
She leaves the mobile phone on the counter and walks out.
Cut to scene 4
Scene 4 : Donating
Izzy looks up different NGOs online, scrolling through different initiatives.
Narrator: Trying to tackle the e-waste crisis, multiple initiatives have started accepting mobile phones as donations. They collect excess or abandoned technology from businesses that are no longer using it.
Izzy scrolls through Google, hundreds of NGOs show up
Narrator: One of the local services is Promise IT to Rehab Recycle
Cut to a small group from Promise IT to Rehab Recycle, waving into the camera smiling.
Cut to members of the organization renovating a laptop/phone
Narrator: Promise IT is a commercial donations platform that enables businesses to donate safe IT equipment to classrooms, foundations, and local organizations.
Cut to another member of the staff giving the laptop/phone to some students.
Narrator: But there are hundreds of NGOs where you can donate your old phone to. They can either refurbish your phone and give it to someone in need or extract their precious metals and sell those.
Izzy clicks at medic.org
Narrator: one of those organisations is medic.org, shipping your old phone to be recycled or refurbished and used to fund an open-source software and support health workers across Africa and Asia.
Cut to Izzy sending off her last mobile phone. She closes her empty drawer, a calm music sets in. Black screen a white contrasting writing appears.
“Don’t shelf your old phones, help someone else”
References
www.rehab.ie/enterprises/promise-it/
Fade out
End
Presentation Slides: The slides are available at Google Docs https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1T8dOAItAfIxdcq2QN0ec5Z8tXHKzXdc7T6BMVRrj36c/edit#slide=id.g193b26f510_0_0
Reflection
How you found the group process:
[Julie] I really enjoyed it , everyone listened to and respected one another which made any issues or disagreements easily resolved, probably because of this mutual respect there weren’t any major issues.
[Joanne] It was a great experience to see our different ideas and personalities work together on this project and the technology helped us connect as much as possible. But if possible, I would not do an online project again, as I think this project would have been much better in person.
[Imelda] As we could not meet in-person, all our conversations and decision-making were via online meetings. I feel that this worked better than I would have anticipated as we ensured that each person’s contribution was valued and considered. As such, group participation worked very well and we communicated by email in between meetings. a
[Grace] Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the process of the group project had to be done remotely. I think this worked well as we were able to find suitable times that worked for all of us.
Did you use any “Group Work Theories” to frame how you worked together?
[Julie] There was no intentional framing or actions to determine who would do what – within the group the roles were balanced between thought, action and people orientated members.
[Imelda] Our roles in the Group were not rigid to incorporate a Facilitator, Recorder, Presenter, or Timekeeper – each person participated equally, with ideas, concepts, solutions, and feedback.
What challenges emerged for the group and how did you deal with them?
[Julie] Having to do everything online was more time consuming than meeting in person.. As none of us had experience in documentary making it was hard to be scriptwriter, director, editor etc.
[Grace] The challenges we faced were coming up with a focused narrative for the documentary script. It was also difficult to write the script collaboratively as we had to do it individually rather than as a team.
[Imelda] Yes, there were unforeseen challenges that emerged at different stages of the project. Sometimes, we had to re-think our processes and how the dialogue in the script would be if we were to film the documentary. Trying to visualise the four individual scripts and how they would become one script was not an easy concept. We also needed to keep in mind the local / global links, how the topics related to the SDGs, how to begin the script as well as coming up with a conclusion.
[Joanne] The project had challenges in different areas, such as the technological, but also the uncertainty of what was actually asked of us for this project. This contributed to unnecessary stress within the group. But no one could have expected how the pandemic would affect this, and the confusion is solely based upon this uncontrollable variant.
What went well?
[Julie] I think we all worked really well together, everyone was respectful towards one another by listening to what we had to say and no one dominated the conversations or decision making process.
[Joanne] In my opinion we had some great teamwork going on and the workshop with Peadar King went well. It helped us to bring our documentation on the right track. Our independent research also added so much to our project.
What lessons did you learn from the group process?
[Julie] I learned that you can’t be too wedded to a particular idea as others in the group may want something different. There’s a balance of keeping to what is important to the individual without detracting from the overall wishes of the group.
[Joanne] I learned that compromise is the A and O of every group work and that using the different personalities and ideas everyone has to bring it into the project, instead of working against each other. Every person has something to contribute to a project and everyone’s opinion must be respected.
[Grace] I learned that time management and organization is extremely important when working collaboratively. It is important to break down the project into manageable tasks for each person to contribute to.
[Imelda] From the outset the group dynamic was warm and welcoming – this was vital as we did not know each other. We were respectful of each person’s contribution, meetings did not feel rushed, more importantly they did not go off topic and ended with agreement on tasks to be completed (before the next meeting). Good communication was key to our success!
What action did you take for this project?
[Julie] We scripted a short documentary to highlight the issues. The most impactful action would have been to actually make the documentary but this was impossible due to Covid restrictions. We also did a presentation to our class on the documentary.
[Joanne] I personally wrote the original idea for the recycling part of the script. Including the importance of recycling mobile phones. Such as the consequences of irresponsible recycling of mobile phones.
[Grace] Each member of the group had a scene to write for the documentary script which was based on a topic surrounding sustainability and e-waste.
[Imelda] I was given ‘Mobile phone repair’ to work on and I undertook research online as well as going to some repair shops in the city. The script I wrote incorporated both and my script shows how easy it can be to repair phones. Preparing slides for the presentation was a very different task and I felt I had more freedom to convey how easy it is to repair phones, instead of just buying a new mobile phone – slides are visual and it was easy to incorporate my research.
Evaluation of the work you did:
[Julie] I really enjoyed working with the group and overall I’m happy with what we did. Although we didn’t assign roles to anyone and it worked out well, I can now see how useful that could be within a group.
[Joanne] I think the group as a whole really worked well together. I personally think that the work I did worked out well. I learned a lot about the environment and how it impacts social situations all around the globe. This project helped me with my Teamwork skills in a way that a solitary project never could.
[Imelda] I enjoyed undertaking research on new topics and sharing ideas with the group.
[Grace] I think that the work I completed for this group project was beneficial as I was able to build on existing skills such as time management, organisation, teamwork, communication, and creative writing. The documentary workshops introduced new concepts to me such as applying to funding and reviewing documentaries
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