Personally, I believe that technology is a want after an initial buying of a product. For instance, I could get a computer because I need one to complete school work or other online interactions, but after that purchase of my first computer, the buying of new technology becomes something I want. I want the newer, faster model that seems to come out every year or so. Of course, I don't buy them because that's an unneeded cost but I know plenty of people that do. Usually those people are older though and have that type of money to spend. I try to be conscious of the environmental impacts of my purchases by using my phone or computer until they break or are too slow to continue use as well as trying to recycle them to drives that break down the materials and distribute them to the correct receptacles.

I agree Lindsay! Such an insightful post! It is a good idea to use your phone to the point of collapse before replacing it, and I am glad to hear that you recycle e-waste in an appropriate manner! Last year, at our school (Bishop O'Dowd), the Students for Sustainability emphasized the dangers and social justice issues surrounding the disposal of e-waste.

Technology is a want, and I agree with Lindsay. We usually want a gadget because we need it for something useful, but when it comes to the latest productions we usually want them because they are new, and we want faster models. We usually tend to spend money on gadgets that are not worth spending on, but in our eyes are worth it. I believe that we should more conscious to the environmental impacts as well, as Lindsay stated because instead of spending money on technology we should spend money on things that can help the environment.

I agree its a want and yes we use them a lot for schoolwork. We spend money on new phones when everyone probably already has a perfectly good phone. I mean we don't need fancy I phones regular phones work just as well in my opinion

I also agree with with what Lindsay said. Technology is a want. Having the latest technology is definitely not a need, since you can survive perfectly fine without it. I think most of us don't even know that there the purchase of technology brings about many environmental impacts. Some people would just throw their phone away after a newer one comes out. What should also be kept in mind is the impact that production of all these types of technologies have upon the environment. We should really pay more attention to what affect the technology device you are using has on the environment. And maybe, like what Maria said, we should spend more money on things that would help save the environment instead.

Yes

Thank Maria! That's what I was going for and I'm glad that you agree that e-waste is an important issue. Its not talked about a lot, but taking that extra time to recycle electronics is so worth it for the health of the earth!

Too true lindsay

Rebecca, that's such a good thought. Wouldn't it be interesting to see if there's a way to build a phone made out of recycled material? The amount of plastic on phones is crazy so I definitely think that the next move for the electronic industry is to make the plastic parts from recycled plastic. I think that would alleviate impacts on the environment a lot.

I agree as qell

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